Aphek (Hastings' Dictionary)

This was the name of at least four places in Palestine. 1. A city whose king was slain by Joshua (Jos 12"), where we should read with the LXX, 'the king of Aphek in Sharon.' This is probably the city mentioned in 1 S 4'. The Israelites were at Ebenezer, between Mizpeh and Shen. With common consent Mizpeh is located at A^eby Samwil, but Shen is unknown, so Ebenezer and Aphek still await identification.

Kakon, in the plain of Sharon, a strong position commanding the main entrance to Samaria, would suit admirably, but no echo of the ancient name has been heard in the district. 2. A city in the territory of Asher (Jos 13 19™) from which the Canaanites were never expelled (Jg 1' — where it is written P'Sk). Apparently in the vicinity of Achzib, its position is uncertain. A possible identification is 'Afka on the Adonis, Nahr Ibrahim, but this seems to be too far north. 3.

A spot, generally supposed to be in the plain of Esdraelon, whence the Philistines advanced to the battle of Gilboa (1 S 29'). Wellhausen and W. R. Smith give reasons for thinking this identical with 1 ; and G. A. Smith now agrees {PEFSt, 1895, 252). If the identity is established, the Philistines assembled in Sharon, and approached Jezreel by way of Dothan.

If, however, they moved from Shunem to Aphek, against Saul, the place must be sought in some ' fortress ' westward of Jezreel ; the fountain near which Israel was encamped being most likely 'Ain Jalud, at the N'. base of Gilboa. I'uku'a, on the mountain itself, is hardly possible. i. The scene of Benhadad's disastrous defeat (1 K 2U'-''-'"). This place was in the misMr, nitr-?

, the table-land east of the Jordan, and is probably identical with Fik, on the lip of the valley eastward • Koaters thinks that Apharsachites of KzT (>'■ 6'> is an offlcia) title which the author of 4« has tuistaaen (or the name of a tribe or country iUergtei v. I»r. 66 f.) apiip:kah APOCALYPTIC LITERATURE 109 of Kal'at el-flusn, overlooking the Sea of Gdlilee. File is iu3t the lleb.

word without the iniiial aleph ; out occasionally one hears the natives call it 'Afik, when the ancient name appears entire. l'"roni the edge of the valley eastward stretches the plain, mUhdr, of Jauliin, where the great battle was foQgbt. Here the Syrians again suli'ered defeat at the hands of Joash (2 K 13"- »). LrrmiTTRB.— W. R. Smith, OTJC pp. 278, 435 ; Wellhauseu, Comp. d. Uex. p. 254, llul. p. 39; O. A. Smith, llint. Geofj. Indej, and esp. Crit. lin. (1892), p. 409 f. W. EwiNG.