McClintock Biblical Encyclopedia: Ephes-dammim

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McClintock Biblical Encyclopedia: Ephes-dammim


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(Heb. E'phes Dammim', ãִּîַּéí àֶôֶñ , appar. boundary of blood; Sept. Á᾿öåóäïìßí or Á᾿öåóäïììåßí v.r. Å᾿öåñìüí , Vulg. fines Dommin), a place in the tribe of Judah between Shochoh and Azekah, where the Philistines were encamped when David fought with Goliath (1Sa_17:1). The similar, but not parallel passage (1Ch_11:13), has the shorter form Pas-Dammim. The name was probably derived from its being the scene of frequent sanguinary encounters between Israel and the Philistines. On his way from Beit-Jibrin to Jerusalem, Van de Velde came past a ruined site on the high northward-looking brow of wady Musur, about one hour E. by S. of Beit-Netif, called Khirbet Damun, which he has no doubt represents the ancient Ephes-Dammim, and "which fixes the place of the camp of Goliath just at its foot, where the valley contracts, and may, indeed, be called the pass [or extremity] of Dammim" (Memoir, page 290). In that case the narrative of 1Sa_17:1-58, becomes plain: "the gorge" ( äִâִּéְà ) between the battle-lines of the two armies (1Sa_17:3), and along which the first rout and pursuit occurred (1Sa_17:52), was no other than the wady Musur itself, which is so narrow immediately at this spot. SEE ELAH (VALLEY OF).