Bible Dictionary

Rameses

“the land of” (Gen. 47:11), was probably “the land of Goshen” (q.v.) 45:10. After the Hebrews had built Rameses, one of the “treasure cities,” it came to be known as the “land” in which that city was…

Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897)

) 45:10. After the Hebrews had built Rameses, one of the “treasure cities,” it came to be known as the “land” in which that city was built. The city bearing this name (Ex. 12:37) was probably identical with Zoan, which Rameses II. (“son of the sun”) rebuilt. It became his special residence, and ranked next in importance and magnificance to Thebes. Huge masses of bricks, made of Nile mud, sun-dried, some of them mixed with stubble, possibly moulded by Jewish hands, still mark the site of Rameses.

This was the general rendezvous of the Israelites before they began their march out of Egypt. Called also Raamses (Ex. 1:11).

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible (1898) & Schaff's Bible Dictionary

RAME'SES (son of the sun), a province and city in Egvpt; called also RAAM'SES. Gen 47:11; Ex 12:37; Num 33:3, 1 Chr 6:5. It was without doubt identical with Goshen as a district. If a city, Rameses was in the valley which extends from the Pelusiac branch of the Nile to the Red Sea or the Bitter Lakes of Suez, and was probably the capital of Goshen. See Gen 45:10. Its precise location has not been determined.

It has been proposed to identify it with - (1) Letopolis, now Baboul, a few miles south of On; (2) with On; (3) with Heroopolis, about 20 miles north-west of the Bitter Lakes; (4) at Zoan, or the modern San, a theory maintained by Dr. Brugsch; (5) with a ruin near Abbanah.