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Bible Encyclopedias
Ephes-Dammim
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
or (Heb. E'phes Dammim', דִּמַּים אֶפֶס, appar. boundary of blood; Sept. Ἀφεσδομίν or Ἀφεσδομμείν v.r. Ε᾿φερμόν, Vulg. fines Dommin), a place in the tribe of Judah between Shochoh and Azekah, where the Philistines were encamped when David fought with Goliath (1 Samuel 17:1). The similar, but not parallel passage (1 Chronicles 11:13), has the shorter form Pas-Dammim. The name was probably derived from its being the scene of frequent sanguinary encounters between Israel and the Philistines. On his way from Beit-Jibrin to Jerusalem, Van de Velde came past a ruined site on the high northward-looking brow of wady Musur, about one hour E. by S. of Beit-Netif, called Khirbet Damun, which he has no doubt represents the ancient Ephes-Dammim, and "which fixes the place of the camp of Goliath just at its foot, where the valley contracts, and may, indeed, be called the pass [or extremity] of Dammim" (Memoir, page 290). In that case the narrative of 1 Samuel 17:1-58, becomes plain: "the gorge" (הִגִּיְא ) between the battle-lines of the two armies (1 Samuel 17:3), and along which the first rout and pursuit occurred (1 Samuel 17:52), was no other than the wady Musur itself, which is so narrow immediately at this spot. (See ELAH (VALLEY OF).)
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McClintock, John. Strong, James. Entry for 'Ephes-Dammim'. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/tce/e/ephes-dammim.html. Harper & Brothers. New York. 1870.
