Where is Siphmoth in the Bible?

Siphmoth is a city in the region of Judah, mentioned only in 1 Samuel 30:28. It is one of the places to which David sent gifts after recovering plunder from the Amalekites.

What happened at Siphmoth in the Bible?

Nothing is recorded as happening *at* Siphmoth. Its sole mention is as a recipient of David's generosity. David sent spoils there to thank the elders of Judah for their support while he was fleeing from King Saul (1 Samuel 30:26-31).

Why is Siphmoth significant?

Siphmoth's significance is that it demonstrates David's political wisdom and care for his future kingdom. By sharing wealth with towns like Siphmoth, he built loyalty among the people of Judah, who later made him king (2 Samuel 2:4).

Siphmoth

cityOld TestamentJudea

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Modern Name

As Samu

Country

Israel

Region

Judea

Coordinates

31.4008, 35.0671

Siphmoth is an ancient city mentioned in the Old Testament, located in the region of Judea in modern-day Israel. Known today as As Samu. It appears across 1 verse in Scripture.

Biblical History

Siphmoth was one of several towns in the Negev to which David sent portions of the plunder captured from the Amalekites, as recorded in 1 Samuel 30:28. After David's decisive victory over the Amalekites who had raided and burned Ziklag during his absence, he distributed the spoil not only to his own men but also to the elders of Judah in various towns throughout the southern region — a politically astute act of generosity that built loyalty and goodwill among the leadership of Judah just as Saul's reign was ending. Siphmoth is listed alongside towns such as Aroer, Hormah, Racal, and others as a recipient of David's benefaction. While the town appears nowhere else in Scripture, its inclusion in this list suggests it was a recognized settlement with local leadership, likely a village community engaged in agriculture and pastoralism in the southern Judean hills or Negev highlands. The episode as a whole reveals David's political wisdom and his cultivation of alliances that would eventually lead to his anointing as king over Judah at Hebron.

Archaeological & Historical Notes

Siphmoth is tentatively identified with modern As-Samu (ancient Eshtemoa), a Palestinian village in the southern Hebron hills south of Hebron in the West Bank. Eshtemoa was a significant Levitical town in this region (Joshua 21:14), and the area around As-Samu has been excavated to reveal substantial Iron Age remains. Alternative identifications have been proposed, including Khirbet Sumara in the Negev. The broader region of the southern Judean hills and the Negev has been extensively surveyed as part of Israeli and international archaeological projects, identifying numerous Iron Age I and II sites consistent with the network of towns mentioned in 1 Samuel 30. The exact location of Siphmoth remains disputed, pending further epigraphic or conclusive material evidence.

Verse Appearances (1)

1Sam

1Sam 30:28

Sources: ISBE Encyclopedia · OpenBible Geocoding (CC BY) · Pleiades Gazetteer View all →

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