Asphar, the Pool
A Refuge in the Wilderness
The Pool of Asphar is mentioned in 1 Maccabees 9:33 as a landmark near which Jonathan and Simon Maccabeus took refuge after fleeing from the Seleucid general Bacchides. Following the death of their brother Judas Maccabeus in battle, Jonathan was chosen to lead the resistance. Under intense pressure from Bacchides and his allies, Jonathan and Simon retreated into the wilderness of Tekoa, where they encamped by the Pool of Asphar.
The Wilderness of Tekoa
Tekoa was a town located about ten miles south of Jerusalem, on the edge of the Judean wilderness. The area to the east and south of Tekoa descends steeply toward the Dead Sea through rugged, arid terrain. This wilderness provided a natural refuge for fugitives throughout biblical history. David had hidden from Saul in similar terrain centuries earlier. The presence of a pool or cistern in this dry landscape would have been crucial for any group trying to survive in the desert.
Proposed Identifications
The exact location of the Pool of Asphar remains uncertain. One prominent identification places it at Ez-Za'feraneh, a ruined site with an ancient cistern south of Tekoa and east of the town of Halhul. The name "Za'feraneh" may preserve an echo of the ancient name Asphar. Another proposal identifies it with Bir Selhub, approximately six miles southwest of Ein Gedi, where the surrounding hills are known as Cafra, a name that could also reflect the ancient designation. Neither identification is certain, but both point to the general area of the Judean desert southeast of Bethlehem.
Significance in the Maccabean Narrative
The encampment at the Pool of Asphar represents a low point in the Maccabean revolt. After Judas's death, the movement had lost its greatest military leader and was reduced to hiding in the wilderness. Yet this period of retreat also marked a turning point, as Jonathan rebuilt the resistance from this base and eventually emerged as both military commander and high priest, leading to a new phase of Jewish independence.
Biblical Context
The Pool of Asphar appears in 1 Maccabees 9:33, where Jonathan and Simon Maccabeus camp beside it while fleeing Bacchides in the wilderness of Tekoa. Josephus references the same episode in Antiquities XIII.i.2. The wilderness of Tekoa also features in 2 Chronicles 20:20.
Theological Significance
The Pool of Asphar episode illustrates the recurring biblical pattern of wilderness retreat as a prelude to restoration. Like David before them, the Maccabees found refuge in the Judean desert during persecution, and from that place of weakness God raised up new leadership. The availability of water in the wilderness echoes the broader biblical theme of God sustaining his people in desolate places.
Historical Background
The wilderness of Tekoa, part of the broader Judean desert, has served as a refuge for fugitives and rebels throughout history. Ancient cisterns and pools cut into the limestone bedrock are found throughout this region, as rainwater collection was essential for survival. The Maccabean retreat to this area around 160 BC followed a pattern of guerrilla warfare that exploited the terrain's advantages against larger conventional armies.