Bible Location
Meaning: the two watch-towers · 1 cross reference · Modern-day map available
Ramathaim-zophim was the fuller name of Samuel's home region around Ramah in the land of Zuph. It is important because it anchors the birth and early life of Samuel in a specific upland setting. First appears in 1 Sam 1:1.1
Place meaning
the two watch-towers
Coordinates
31.83, 35.18
First appears
1 Sam 1:1
AI summary: Ramathaim-zophim matters because one of Israel's most formative prophets is introduced through a named family and place-world. The record belongs to the sacred beginnings of Samuel's story.1
Place meaning
the two watch-towers
Latitude
31.83
Longitude
35.18
Bible references
1
The two heights of the Zophites or of the watchers (only in 1 Sam. 1:1), “in the land of Zuph” (9:5). Ramathaim is another name for Ramah (4).
One of the Levitical families descended from Kohath, that of Zuph or Zophai (1 Chr. 6:26, 35), had a district assigned to them in Ephraim, which from this circumstance was called “the land of Zuph,” and hence the name of the town, “Zophim.” It was the birth-place of Samuel and the seat of his authority (1 Sam. 2:11; 7:17). It is frequently mentioned in the history of that prophet and of David (15:34; 16:13; 19:18-23). Here Samuel died and was buried (25:1).
This town has been identified with the modern Neby Samwil (“the prophet Samuel”), about 4 or 5 miles north-west of Jerusalem. But there is no certainty as to its precise locality. Some have supposed that it may be identical with Arimathea of the New Testament. (See MIZPAH). 3
Source note: this 1893 dictionary language reflects its period and may be culturally insensitive or outdated. It is presented as historical source material, not as ai-BIBLE’s language, interpretation, or endorsement.
| Book | Cross-References |
|---|---|
| 1Sam |
Figure1: A table of cross references between the selected passage and other passages (Data from Robert Rouse, “Theographic Bible Information,” Theographic-Bible-Metadata, 2020, https://github.com/robertrouse/theographic-bible-metadata.)
AI-assisted summary prepared for ai-BIBLE and stored as page content, based on dictionary material, place metadata, and linked Bible cross references.
Alistair de Blacquiere-Clarkson, “ai-BIBLE Bible Names JSON Factsheet Aggregating Material from Smith’s Bible Dictionary & Hitcocks’s New and Complete Analysis of the Bible.” ai-BIBLE electronic edition, version 1.0.
M.G.Easton, Illustrated Bible Dictionary, ai-BIBLE electronic edition, version 1.0.
Robert Rouse, “Theographic Bible Information,” Theographic-Bible-Metadata, 2020, https://github.com/robertrouse/theographic-bible-metadata.