Bible Dictionary
Etam, The Rock
The Rock of Etam was a natural cliff or cleft in Judah where Samson withdrew after striking the Philistines. It served as a temporary stronghold for him.
Definition
The Rock of Etam was a cliff, cave, or cleft in the hill country of Judah that served Samson as a natural stronghold. He withdrew there after his attack on the Philistines.
Biblical Usage
Samson retired to the rock of Etam after slaughtering the Philistines. Lehi, Ramath-lehi, and Enhakkore were in its neighborhood, and the site formed part of the events recorded in Judges 15.
Historical Background
The rock was in the uneven and broken country of Judah, probably near Bethlehem. It has been associated with rocky elevations and caves in the region around modern Urtas.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Smith's Bible Dictionary
a cliff or lofty rock, into a cleft or chasm of which Samson retired after his slaughter of the Philistines. (Judges 15:8,11) This natural stronghold was in the tribe of Judah; and near it, probably at its foot, were Lehi and Ramath-lehi and Enhakkore. (Judges 15:9,14,17,19) The name Etam was held by a city in the neighborhood of Bethlehem, (2 Chronicles 11:6) which is known to have been situated in the extremely uneven and broken country round the modern Urtas.