Irpeel
Irpeel is an ancient city mentioned in the Old Testament, located in the region of Judea in modern-day Israel. Known today as Rafat. It appears across 1 verse in Scripture.
Biblical History
Irpeel is mentioned only in Joshua 18:27 as one of the cities allotted to the tribe of Benjamin during the division of Canaan. It appears in a list of fourteen Benjaminite cities that included Rekem, Taralah, and Zelah. The tribe of Benjamin, though the smallest of Israel's tribes, received a strategically vital territory situated between Judah to the south and Ephraim to the north. This narrow but significant strip of land encompassed Jerusalem and several important routes connecting the coastal plain with the Jordan Valley. While Irpeel itself is not mentioned in any specific biblical narrative beyond the territorial allocation, its inclusion in Benjamin's inheritance reflects the careful and systematic apportionment of the land that God had promised to Abraham's descendants. The Benjaminite territory would later play a crucial role in Israel's history, producing the nation's first king, Saul (1 Samuel 9:1-2), and serving as a contested border zone during the divided monarchy. Irpeel's location in this strategically important tribal allotment connects it to the broader story of Israel's settlement and governance of the Promised Land.
Archaeological & Historical Notes
Irpeel has been tentatively identified with the site of Rafat, a village located northwest of Jerusalem in the central hill country. This identification, proposed by several scholars, is based primarily on topographical considerations and the site's position within the probable boundaries of the Benjaminite territory. No dedicated archaeological excavations have been conducted at the site specifically to confirm the identification with biblical Irpeel. The surrounding region has yielded Iron Age pottery and settlement remains consistent with Israelite habitation during the period of the Judges and early monarchy. The area of Rafat today lies within the modern West Bank, and the ancient site remains largely unexcavated, leaving the precise identification of Irpeel with this location as a scholarly proposal rather than an established certainty.
Verse Appearances (1)
Josh
Sources: ISBE Encyclopedia · OpenBible Geocoding (CC BY) · Pleiades Gazetteer View all →