Bible Encyclopedias
Iphtah-el

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

if´ta - el ( יפתּח־אל , yiphtaḥ - 'ēl ; the King James Version Jiphtah-el ): The valley of Iphtah-el lay on the North border of Zebulun ( Joshua 19:14 , Joshua 19:27 ). Northwest of the plain of el -Battauf stands a steep hill, connected only by a low saddle with the hills on the North. The name Tell Jēfāt suggests the Jotapata of Josephus (BJ , III, vi, 1; vii, 1, etc.), and the place answers well to his description. It probably corresponds to the ancient Iphtah-el. In that case the valley is most probably that which begins at Tell Jēfāt , passes round the South of Jebel Kaukab , and, as Wādy 'Abellı̄n , opens on the plain of Acre.