Chellus

(Χελλούς v. r. Χελούς, Vulg. omits), named among the places beyond (i.e. on the west of) Jordan to which Nabuchodonosor sent his summons (Jdt 1:9). Except its mention with "Kades" there is no clew to its situation; this, however, would seem to locate it near Kadesh-barnea. Hence Reland (Palaest. p. 717) conjectures that it may be Chaluza (חִלוּצָה), a place which, under the altered form of ELUSA SEE ELUSA (q.v.), was well known to the Roman and Greek geographers. With this agrees the subsequent mention of the "land of the Chellians” (ἡ Χελλαίων, Vulg. terra Cellon), "by the wilderness," to the south of whom were the children of Ishmael (Jdt 2:23). Movers (Zeitschr. f. Philos. 1835, p. 36) supposes it to be the same as HALHUL (Jos 15:58), and that Betane, mentioned with it, is the same as Beth-anoth (Jos 15:59).

(Χελους; Codex Sinaiticus, Χελους; Syriac version, ):

By: Emil G. Hirsch, Frants Buhl

Place mentioned in Judith i. 9 as lying before Kadesh and the River of Egypt. Reland ("Palæstina ex Monumentis Veteribus Illustrata," p. 717) is probably correct in identifying it with the city of Elusa (according to the Targum, ), which was situated on the south of Beersheba, and was noted for its particular cult. Less probable is the supposition of Movers, according to which Chellus is the Biblical "Halhul," mentioned in Joshua xv. 58. The name does not occur in the O. T., but is found in the form "Alusa" in Josephus ("Ant." xiv. 1, § 4); not identical with "Allus," mentioned by Eusebius and Jerome ("Onomasticon," pp. 85, 6; 211, 3). The modern name is "Chalasa," and the place contains only ruins.

CHELLUS.—From the text (Jdt 1:9) this place is supposed to have been situated S.W. of Jerus. near Betane and N. of Kadesh and the ‘river of Egypt,’ i.e. the Wady-el-‘Arish; but any certain identification is Impossible.

kel´us (Χελλούς, Chelloús), a place named (Judith 1:9) among those West of the Jordan to which Nebuchadnezzar sent his summons. It is mentioned along with “Kades,” and as it lay North of the “children of Ishmael” it may with some probability be taken as lying Southwest of Jerusalem. It has been conjectured that it may be Chalutzah (Reland, Palestine, 717), a place under the form Elusa well known to the ancient geographers.