Charax; Characa

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

kār´ax , kar´a - ka  ; (εἰς τὸν Χάρακα , eis tón Cháraka  ; the King James Version Characa; Χάραξ , Chárax ): A place mentioned only in 2 Macc 12:17. It lay east of the Jordan and is said to be 750 stadia from Caspis, and to be inhabited by Jews called Tubieni, that is, of Tobie (Tob) in Gilead (1 Macc 5:9, 13; 2 Macc 12:17). There is no clue as to the direction in which Ch. lay from Caspis. Possibly Kerak (Kir-moab), in post-Biblical times called Charamōba and Mōboucharax , may represent the place. It lay about 100 miles South of el-Mezerib, Southeast of the Dead Sea.