ZEPHATH
A Canaanitish city afterwards called Hormah, one of the “uttermost cities of Judah southwards,” afterwards assigned to Simeon, Jos 12:14 15:30 19:4. The name is supposed to be traceable in Sufah, a long and rough pass leading from the south up into the mountains of Judah. It was at Zephath that the Israelites were repulsed in attempting to ascend from Kadesh, Num 14:40-45 21:3 Deu 1:44 Jdg 1:17 .
Fuente: American Tract Society Bible Dictionary
Zephath
(Heb. Tsephath’, , watch-tower; Sept. v.r. .’ and ; Vulg. Sephaath), the earlier name (according to the notice of Judges 1, 17) of a Canaanitish town, which after its capture and destruction was called by the Israelites HORMAH SEE HORMAH (q.v.). According to rabbi Schwarz (Palest. p. 186), it is like-wise mentioned in the Jerus. Talmud (Rosh hash-Shanah, ch. 2). SEE ZIPH. Two identifications have been proposed for Zephath-that of Dr. Robinson with the well-known pass es- Sufd, by which the ascent is made from the borders of the Arabah to the higher level of the south country (Bibl. Res. 2, 181), and that of Mr. Rowlands (Williams, Holy City, 1, 464) with Sebata, two, and a half hours beyond Khalasa, on the road to Suez, and a quarter of an hour north of Rohebeh, or Ruheibeh. SEE ZEPHATHAH.
1. The former of these Mr. Wilton (The Negeb, etc., p. 199, 200) has challenged, on account of the impracticability of the pass for the approach of the Israelites, and the inappropriateness of so rugged and desolate a spot for the position of a city of any importance. The question really forms part of a much larger one, which this is not the place to discuss viz. the route by which the Israelites approached the Holy Land. SEE EXODE. But, in the meantime, it should not be overlooked that the attempt of the Israelites in question was an unsuccessful one which is so far in favor of the steepness of the pass. It should also be borne in mind that both in ancient and modern times the difficult passes have in many cases been the chief thoroughfares in Palestine, and this one in particular has remained such to the present day. The argument from the nature of the site is one which might be brought with equal force against the existence of many others of the towns in this region.
2. On the identification of Mr. Rowlands some doubt has been thrown by the want of certainty as to the name and exact locality. Dr. Stewart (Tent and Khan, p. 205) heard of the name, but east of Khalasa instead of south, and this was in answer to a leading question always a dangerous experiment with Arabs. The English engineers of the Ordnance Survey, however, found Sebaita in the vicinity indicated; namely, about fifteen, miles south of Khalasah. Prof. Palmer gives a full description of the extensive ruins of the place (Desert of the Exodus, p. 315 sq.), and a plan of the town, with other details, may be found in the Quarterly. Statement of the Palestine Explor. Fund, Jan. 1871, p. 3-73. Preferring, as we decidedly do, the location of Kadesh-barnea, on the edge of the Arabah, we should decide against the claims of this spot to be the Zephath of Scripture, notwithstanding the agreement in name and remains. SEE KADESH.
Fuente: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
Zephath
beacon; watch-tower, a Canaanite town; called also Hormah (q.v.), Judg. 1:17. It has been identified with the pass of es-Sufah, but with greater probability with S’beita.
Fuente: Easton’s Bible Dictionary
Zephath
(“watchtower”) (Jdg 1:17). A Canaanite town, called after its destruction by Israel (See HORMAH . In the extreme S. or wilderness of Judah. Now the pass es Sufa from the Arabah border up to the high level of the S. country (Robinson). But Speaker’s Commentary, “Rakhmah,” an anagram of Hormah, some miles E. of Sebatah which is on the road to Suez, quarter of an hour N. of Rohebeh or Ruheibeh.
Rowlands identifies Zephath with Sebata, whose ruins extend 500 yards in length, 300 in width, 20 miles from Ain Gadis which Palmer makes Kadesh. Then the fort el Meshrifeh would command the only pass to Sebaita. The name of the low mountains 15 miles S.W. of Meshrifeh; Ras Amir marks the hill country of the Amorites. Palmer makes Sebaita the city of Zephath, and Meshrifeh, three miles off, its protecting tower.
Fuente: Fausset’s Bible Dictionary
Zephath
ZEPHATH.See Hormah.
Fuente: Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible
Zephath
zefath. See HORMAH.
Fuente: International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Zephath
Zephath, a Canaanitish city, afterwards called Hormah (Jdg 1:17). The ancient designation is perhaps retained in the modern Sufah, the name of a difficult pass leading up from the Arabah to the south of Judah.
Fuente: Popular Cyclopedia Biblical Literature
Zephath
[Zephath’] See HORMAH.
Fuente: Concise Bible Dictionary
Zephath
H6857
A Canaanitish city.
Jdg 1:17 Hormah
Fuente: Nave’s Topical Bible
Zephath
Ze’phath. (watch-tower). The earlier name, Jdg 1:17, of a Canaanite town, which, after its capture and destruction, was called by the Israelites, Hormah. See Hormah.