Dothan was located at north of Shechem, and about 100km north of Hebron, house of Jacob. It was known to Eusebius, who places it 12 miles to the north of Sebaste (Samaria); and here it has been discovered in our own times. It is identified with the modern Tell-Dothan, on the south side of the plain of Jezreel , among the hills of Gilboa.

It is first mentioned (Genesis 37:17) in connection with the history of Joseph. Here, at the suggestion of Judah, the brothers sold him to the Ishmaelite merchants (Gen. 37:17). It later appears as the residence of Elisha (2 Kings 6:13) and the scene of a remarkable vision of chariots and horses of fire surrounding the mountain on which the city stood.

Dothan is also the codename for the 2mb cache model Pentium M mobile processor.

Dothan is also a city in the south-eastern corner of Alabama. It is the peanut and condom capital of the world. There are four movie theaters and two Walmarts.