Bible Dictionary
Zaphon
Zaphon was a city east of the Jordan in the territory of Gad. It was a gathering place for the elders of Gilead during the conflict between Jephthah and the men of Ephraim.
Definition
Zaphon was a city east of the Jordan in the territory allotted to Gad.
Biblical Usage
The elders of Gilead gathered at Zaphon to meet Jephthah during the conflict with the men of Ephraim.
Historical Background
Zaphon lay well north in Gad and has been identified with Tell ‘Amateh, though the identification has been disputed. It was regarded as a strong position and later contained one of the synedria established by Gabinius.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Smith's Bible Dictionary
(north), a place mentioned in the enumeration of the allotment of the tribe of Gad. (Joshua 13:27)
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>za'-fon (tsaphon; Codex Vaticanus Saphan; Codex Alexandrinus Saphon): A city on the East of the Jordan in the territory of Gad (Jos 13:27). It is named again in Jud 12:1 as the place where the elders of Gilead gathered to meet with Jephthah (tsaphonah should be translated "to Zaphon," not "northward"). It must have lain well to the North of Gad. According to the Talmud Amathus represented Zaphon (Neubauer, Geog. du Talmud, 249). Here sat one of the Synedria created by Gabinius (Ant., XIV, v, 4). It was a position of great strength (B J, I, iv, 2). Eusebius, Onomasticon places it 21 Roman miles S. of Pella. This is the modern Tell 'Amateh, on the south bank of Wady er-Rujeib, 15 miles South of Pella, and nearly 5 miles North of the Jabbok. Buhl (GAP, 259) objects to the identification that Tell 'Amateh corresponds to the Asophon of Josephus (Ant., XIII, xii, 5). But this objection does not seem well founded.</p><p>W. Ewing</p>