TheBattle of Aphekis a biblical episode described in theFirst Book of Samuel4:1–10of theHebrew Bible.During this battle thePhilistinesdefeated theIsraelitearmy and captured theArk of the Covenant.Among biblical scholars, the historicity of the early events in theBooks of Samuelis debated, with some scholars leaning toward many events in Samuel being historical, and some scholars leaning towards less.[1](See alsoBiblical minimalismandBiblical maximalism.)
| Battle of Aphek | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 The battle depicted inRudolf von Ems'Weltchronik | |||||
| |||||
| Belligerents | |||||
| Israelites | Philistines | ||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||
|
Hophni† Phinehas† (on behalf of judgeEli) | unknown | ||||
| Strength | |||||
| Unknown | Unknown | ||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||
| 34,000 | Light | ||||
Biblical account
editTheBook of Samuelrecords that the Philistines were camped atAphekand the Israelites atEben-Ezer.The Philistines defeated the Israelites during the first battle, killing 4,000 Israelites. The Israelites then brought up the Ark of the Covenant fromShiloh,thinking that through this "they should have the presence of God with them, and so success",[2]but the Philistines again defeated the Israelites, this time killing 30,000 and capturing the Ark.
Samuel records that the two sons of the judgeEli,Hophni and Phinehas,died that day, as well as Eli. "And it came to pass, when [a messenger] made mention of the ark of God, that [Eli] fell from off his seat backward by the side of the gate, and hisneck broke,and he died; for he was an old man, and heavy. And he hadjudgedIsrael forty years. "(1 Samuel 4:18)
Place
editMost scholars agree that there were more than one Aphek.C. R. Conderidentified the Aphek of Eben-Ezer[3]with a ruin (Khirbet) some 3.7 miles (6 km) distant fromDayr Aban(believed to be Eben-Ezer[4]), and known by the nameMarj al-Fikiya;the nameal-Fikiyabeing an Arabic corruption of Aphek.[5]Eusebius,when writing about Eben-ezer in hisOnomasticon,says that it is "the place from which the Gentiles seized the Ark, between Jerusalem and Ascalon, near the village of Bethsamys (Beit Shemesh)",[6]a locale that corresponds with Conder's identification.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^Schley, D. G. (1993). Graham, M. Patrick; Brown, William P.; Kuan, Jeffrey K. (eds.).History and Interpretation: Essays in Honour of John H. Hayes.Sheffield, England: JSOT Press. p. 91-92.ISBN1-85075-466-7.
- ^Gill, J.,Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible on 1 Samuel 4,accessed 22 April 2017
- ^The account in 1 Samuel 4:1 of the battle at Aphek and Eben-ezer
- ^Conder, C. R.,Notes from the Memoir,Palestine Exploration Quarterly,vol. 18, London 1876, p. 149; Conder & Kitchener,The Survey of Western Palestine,vol. iii (Judaea), London 1883, p. 24
- ^North, Robert (1960). "Ap(h)eq(a) and 'Azeqa".Biblica.41(1): 61–63.JSTOR42637769.
- ^Eusebius Werke,Erich Klostermann(ed.), Leipzig 1904, p. 33,24.