The phrase "was near" means next to. This phrase is used 12 times and in all uses it is used consistently to mean "next to" using the English definition of "next to". This has an obvious benefit to interpreting the geography since this becomes an indicator phrase to establish lands that were next to (i.e. bordering) each other. The reason that "near" means "next to" rather than using the term "next to" is that Hebrew is a language based primarily on time and the term "next" always means "the next in sequence or time." This is one example why trying to interpret the Book of Mormon using English grammar rules leads to false interpretations.

A few examples of its use are:

ETHER 3:43 [7:6]: Now the land of Moron where the king dwelt, was near the land which is called Desolation by the Nephites.

ETHER 6:66 [14:28]: Now the valley of Shurr was near the hill Comnor; wherefore Coriantumr did gather his armies together, upon the hill Comnor, and did sound a trumpet unto the armies of Shiz, to invite them forth to battle.

This meaning is also found in the Bible where "near" means "nothing in between". The most often phrases being, "came near," "come near," "went near," "drew near/draw near/draweth near," and "is near." An example is:

Genesis 29:10 - And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother's brother, that Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother.