Ashteroth-karnaim Astaroth Carnain
Archimandrite Nikifor’s Biblical Encyclopedia
(dwelling place of the two-horned goddess) (Gen. 14:5). This city is mentioned as the chief dwelling place of the Rephaim, who were struck down by Chedorlaomer and his allies. The same city is mentioned in the Book of Joshua (12:4) as the dwelling place of giants (men of extraordinary strength, in Hebrew Rephaim). The addition to the city’s name — Karnaim (two-horned) — was made, according to Hebrew tradition, because it lay between two hills, but more likely it was an addition to the name of the moon goddess (Astarte), to distinguish her from other deities.
This city was called Karnaim even in the time of the Maccabees (1 Macc. 5:33 [as given]); it lay beyond the Jordan, in the half-tribe of Manasseh, and was a Levitical city. Its ancient location has still not been precisely determined, but it probably lay near the city of Edrei, at a distance of about six miles. According to Ritter and Porter, this is the present-day settlement Tell Ashtarah.