Zophim
field of. Near the top of Pisgah, from which Balaam had his second view of Israel's encampment (Num 23:14); it was N. of his former station and nearer Israel. It means "watchers." A tableland on the Abarim or Nebo range, where watchers in times of danger looked out for the foe, or else augurs watched for omens. Grove suggests its identity with Mizpah Moab. Porter, identifying Attarus with Pisgah, says a fertile plain, namely, Zophim field, surrounds the ruins of Main at the mountain's foot.
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible on Zophim
The ' field of Zophim ' (D-?i- n--f, LXX (h dypou (jKOTnay) was one of the spots to which Balal^ took l'>alaa,m to view Israel, Nu23'*(JE). It is questionable whether we have here a proper name ; the Heb. expression means literally ' Held of viewers or lookers out' (note the addition 'to the top of Pisgah '). Such 'places of watching' (nssa) were naturally situated frequently on the tops of hUls (see Mizpah, vol. iii. p. 400»). On the impossible combination Ramat/uxim-fophim of ISP see art. Ramah, p. 19S*. ZORAH {^sry ■?) occurs in 1 Ch 2=^ (ol Zapaeam) 4- (B 6 'ApaSei, A 6 ^apaBl, Luc. ^aXadi-qX) and prob. 2" (where read Zoratliites 'r'i'''VO for Zorites "pi'D : B 6 'Ho-apuei, A 6 'Haapacl, Luc. 6 -apaOi). In the latter verse the name Manahalhites (Manoahites) is a reminiscence of Manoah the father of Samson. ^orali is the modern Surah on the northern side of Wddy e^-Surar (the Valley of Sorely) opposite 'Ain Shcms (Beth - shemesh), which lies on the southern side. This corresiionds with the state- ment of Eusebius {OS" 293, 29) that it was 10 miles from Eleutheropolis on tlie road…
Smith's Bible Dictionary on Zophim
(watchers), The field of, a spot on or near the top of Pisgah, from which Balaam had his second view of the encampment of Israel. (Numbers 23:14) The position of the field of Zophim is not defined. Possibly it is the same place which later in the history is mentioned as Mizpah-moab.
References
- Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
- Easton, M.G. (1893) Easton's Bible Dictionary. 3rd edn. Thomas Nelson. [Public Domain]
- Nave, O.J. (1897) Nave's Topical Bible. Topical Bible Publishing Co.. [Public Domain]
- Hastings, J. (ed.) (1909) A Dictionary of the Bible. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Smith, W. (ed.) (1884) Smith's Bible Dictionary. London: John Murray. [Public Domain]
- Fausset, A.R. (1878) Fausset's Bible Dictionary. [Public Domain]A Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopaedia