Achshaph (Hastings' Dictionary)
There were perhaps two towns in Calilee of this name. 1. Noticed with places in L'piier Galilee, may be the present El-Kesaf S. of the i>eontes, on the mountains of Naphtali (Jos U' 12''")- 2. A city of Asher (Jos 1!)-^), noticed with other towns near the coast, is more probably the modern El-Y>t.ilf near Acre. This is also noticed by the Mnhar, an Kgyp. traveller (14th cent. VI).) on his way down the coast. The lo.
ss of the letter capli in this name may be compared with the well-known case of Achzib (2). See •SW'P vol. i. sheets ii. iii., and Chabas, Voyage W itn ligijptien. C. K. CONDEU.
This topic also has an entry in the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Both articles offer independent scholarly perspectives.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia on Achshaph
Achshaph ak'-shaf ('akhshaph, "sorcery," or "fascination"): A city in the northern part of the territory conquered by Joshua. The king of Achshaph was a member of the coalition against Israel under Jabin and Sisera. It is mentioned with Hazor, Megiddo, Taanach, etc., in the list of conquered kings. It is one of the cities marking the boundaries of the tribe of Asher (Jos 11:1; 12:20; 19:25). Several attempts have been made to identify the site of it, but explorers are not agreed as to the identification. ⇒See a list of verses on ACHSHAPH in the Bible. ⇒See also the McClintock and Strong Biblical Cyclopedia.
Smith's Bible Dictionary on Achshaph
(fascination), a city within the territory of Asher, named between Beten and Alammelech, (Joshua 19:25) originally the seat of a Canaanite king. (Joshua 11:1; 12:20)
Fausset's Bible Dictionary on Achshaph
A Canaanite royal city, whose king was smitten by Joshua (Jos 11:1; Jos 12:20; Jos 19:25). Within Asher; perhaps the modern Chaifa, in the Septuagint Ceaph. Conder (Pal. Expl. Qy. Star., April, 1876) identifies with Yasif. The hieratic papyrus (Brit. Mus., 1842, pl. 35-61), mentioning Aksapou (identified by M. Chabas with Achshaph), is the account of an Egyptian officer's travels in a chariot from near Aleppo to the vicinity of the sea of Saltlee, and thence to Egypt via Joppa. He is called a Mohar; his record is at least 3,000 years old. ("Voyage d'un Egypt. en Syrie, en Phenic., en Palest.": F. Chabas, Paris, 1866.)
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