fountain, or eye, of the sun
Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary
EN-SHEMESH (sun-spring, Jos_15:7; Jos_18:17).A spring E. of En-rogel, on the way to Jericho. It is believed to be the spring on the Jericho road E. of Olivet, generally known as the Apostles fountain (Ain Hôd).
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible
Edited by James Hastings, D.D. Published in 1909
En-she'mesh. (fountain of the sun). A spring which formed one of the landmarks on the north boundary of Judah, Jos_15:7, and the south boundary of Benjamin, Jos_18:17, perhaps Ain Haud or Ain-Chot ? the "well of apostles" ? about a mile below Bethany.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
By Dr. William Smith.Published in 1863
en-shē?mesh (עין־שׁמשׁ, ‛ēn shemesh, ?spring of the sun?): An important landmark on the boundary line between Judah and Benjamin (Jos_15:7; Jos_18:17). The little spring ‛Ain el ḥaud, East of Bethany, the last spring on the road descending to Jericho, seems to suit the conditions. ‛Ain el ḥaud is usually called the ?Apostles' Fountain? by Christians, on account of a tradition dating from the 15th century that the apostles drank there.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
PRINTER 1915.
En-shemesh
(Hebrews Eyn-She'mesh (עֵיןאּשֶׁמֶשׁ, fountain of the sun; Sept. ἡ πηγὴ ἡλίου and πηγὴ Σάμες; Vulgate, Ensemes, id est, Fons Solis), a spring which formed one of the landmarks on the north boundary of Judah (Jos_15:7) and the south boundiry of Benjamin (Jos_18:17). From these notices it appears to have been between the "ascent of Adummim" the road leading up from the Jordan valley south of the wady Kelt and the spring of En-rogel, in the valley of Kedron. It was therefore east of Jerusalem and of the Mount of Olives. The only spring at present answering to this position is the Ain-Haud or Ain-Chot the "Well of the Apostles" about a mile below Bethany, the traveler's first halting-place on the road to Jericho (Tobler, Topog. von Jerus. 2:400). The aspect of this spring is such that the rays of the sun are on it the whole day. This is not inappropriate in a cfountain dedicated to that luminary. Dr. Robinson thinks that En-shemesh must have been either this spring or the fountain near St. Saba (Researches, 1:493).
CYCLOPEDIA OF BIBLICAL, THEOLOGICAL AND ECCLESIASTICAL
press 1895.