Dictionaries :: Etam

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Etam:

eyrie. (1.) A village of the tribe of Simeon (1Ch 4:32). Into some cleft ("top," A.V.,; R.V., "cleft") of a rock here Samson retired after his slaughter of the Philistines (Jdg 15:8,11). It was a natural stronghold. It has been identified with Beit 'Atab, west of Bethlehem, near Zorah and Eshtaol. On the crest of a rocky knoll, under the village, is a long tunnel, which may be the "cleft" in which Samson hid.

(2.) A city of Judah, fortified by Rehoboam (2Ch 11:6). It was near Bethlehem and Tekoah, and some distance apparently to the north of (1). It seems to have been in the district called Nephtoah (or Netophah), where were the sources of the water from which Solomon's gardens and pleasure-grounds and pools, as well as Bethlehem and the temple, were supplied. It is now 'Ain 'Atan, at the head of the Wady Urtas, a fountain sending forth a copious supply of pure water.

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

Etam:

their bird, their covering

International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia

Etam:

e'-tam ‘eTam; Codex Alexandrinus, Apan, Codex Vaticanus, Aitan:

(1) Mentioned in Septuagint along with Tekoa, Bethlehem and Phagor (Jos 15:59). In 2Ch 11:6 it occurs, between Bethlehem and Tekoa, as one of the cities built "for defense in Judah" by Rehoboam. Josephus writes that "there was a certain place, about 50 furlongs distant from Jerusalem which is called Ethan, very pleasant it is in fine gardens and abounding in rivulets of water; whither he (Solomon) used to go out in the morning" (Ant., VIII, vii, 3). Mention of ‘Ain ‘Aitan, which is described as the most elevated place in Palestine, occurs in the Talmud (Zebhachim 54b), and in the Jer. Talmud (Yoma' 3 fol 41) it is mentioned that a conduit ran from ‘Atan to the Temple.

The evidence all points to ‘Ain ‘Atan, the lowest of the springs supplying the aqueduct running to Solomon's pools. The gardens of Solomon may very well-by tradition, at any rate-have been in the fertile valley below ‘Urtas. The site of the ancient town Etam is rather to be looked for on an isolated hill, with ancient remains, a little to the East of ‘Ain ‘Atan. 1Ch 4:3 may also have reference to this Etam.

(2) A town assigned to Simeon (1Ch 4:32). Mentioned with EN-RIMMON (which see), identified by Conder with Khurbet ‘AiTun in the hills Northwest of Beersheba.

(3) The rock of Etam, where Samson took up his dwelling after smiting the Philistines "hip and thigh with a great slaughter" (Jud 15:8,11), was in Judah but apparently in the low hill country (same place). The rocky hill on which lies the village of Beit ‘Atab, near Sur‘ah (Zorah), was suggested by Conder, but unless (3) is really identical width (1), which is quite possible, the cavern known as ‘Arak Isma‘in, described by Hanauer (PEFS, 1886, 25), suits the requirements of the story better. The cavern, high up on the northern cliffs of the Wady Isma‘in, is a noticeable object from the railway as the train enters the gorge.

Written by E. W. G. Masterman

Nave's Topical Bible

Etam: 1. A Village of Simeon

1Ch 4:32

Etam: 2. A City in Judah

2Ch 11:6

Etam: 3. A Name on the List of Judah's Descendants

But probably referring to No. 2,

1Ch 4:3.

Etam: 4. A Rock Where Samson Was Bound and Delivered to the Philistines

Jdg 15:8, 11-13.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Etam:

(lair of wild beasts).

(1.) A village of the tribe of Simeon, specified only in the list in 1 Chronicles 4:32; compare Josh 19:7.

(2.) A place in Judah, fortified and garrisoned by Rehoboam (2 Chronicles 11:6). Here, according to the statements of Josephus and the Talmudists, were the sources of the water from which Solomon's gardens and the pleasure‐grounds were fed, and Bethlehem and the temple supplied.

(3.) A name occurring in the lists of Judah's descendents (1 Chronicles 4:3) but probably referring to the last mentioned place.