The geographical names of cities, rivers, mountains and valleys are derived from several sources:
(a) The name commemorates a historical incident:
Bethel, "house of God", for the appearance of God to Jacob in dreams; or Peniel, "the face of God", for his encounter with the angel of Jehovah, Gen. 32:30;
(b) they are named after a deity associated with the place:
BaaI-meón, Nm. 32:38;
Baal-perazim, 2 Samuel 5:20;
Beth-dagon, Joseph. 15:41;
(c) mentions your situation:
compounds with Abel (water course),
Beer (well),
Hor (mountain),
Carmel (garden), etc.
(d) denoted the products of the place:
Betphage, "house of figs",
Bet-tapúa, "house of apples", etc.;
(e) the name of the place was given in honor of a personality, founder, etc.:
Shechem,
Philadelphia,
Antipatris,
Caesarean section,
Philippi.
There are ancient names that have remained more established than the names imposed by the later Roman administration. For example, ancient Rabbah-ammon of the Ammonites, later called Philadelphia, is the capital of the Hashemite kingdom of Jordan under the name of Amman.
The same can be said for the city of Akkõ. Called Ptolemais during the Hellenic and Roman period (in honor of Ptolemy), it changed to Saint John of Acre under the Crusaders. Nowadays it is called Akkõ again.
Meaning of NAMES OF PLACES
(a) The name commemorates a historical incident:
Bethel, "house of God", for the appearance of God to Jacob in dreams; or Peniel, "the face of God", for his encounter with the angel of Jehovah, Gen. 32:30;
