Lexical Definition

‎אֲפֵק‎ ʼĂphêq (af-ake') Aphek ^N:N--L
or אֲפִיק ʼĂphîyq (af-eek'); from ‎אָפַק‎ (in the sense of strength); fortress

Aphek, Aphik.

• § Aphek or Aphik = "enclosure"
• Aphek (or Aphik), the name of three places in Palestine

1) a Canaanite city near Jezreel
2) a city in territory of Asher
3) a city northeast of Beirut in Transjordan

See Greek: ἄφεσις · κῦμα · πηγή · πλευρά · πλήρωμα · φάραγξ · χείμαῤῥος

Extended Information

• a city northeast of Beirut in Transjordan

Brown-Driver-Briggs

‎אֲפֵק‎ ‎אֲפִיק‎ (Judg 1:31) proper name, of a location Aphek (perhaps enclosure, or fortress). **now probable that 1 should include Josh 12:18; 1Sam 4:1; 1Sam 29:1 and 2Kgs 13:22: ‎ᵐ5‎L; town not near Jezreel, but at north end of philistine plain; compare ‎ᵐ5‎L^i. with We^{compare 254} Dr^{1Sam 29:11} RS^{OTJC 2.435} GASm^{Geogr. 400 f.} Buhl^{Geogr. 212} (and N.) Bu^{RS 235 f.}; more doubtful are 1Kgs 20:26; 1Kgs 20:30; 2Kgs 13:17 (Kit 1Kgs 20:26); these, with Josh 19:30; Judg 1:31, might denote an Aphek near Jezreel.

1. city near Jezreel (Assyrian Ap‡u, compare Dl^{Pa 287}) Josh 12:18; 1Sam 29:1 (‎אֲפֵ֑קָה‎, so) 1Kgs 20:26; 1Kgs 20:30 compare 2Kgs 13:7

2. city in tribe of Asher Josh 19:30; Judg 1:31 (‎אֲפִיק‎).

3. city northeast of Beirût, modern Afqa Josh 13:4 ‎אֲפֵ֑קָת‎ see Di.

4. place near Mizpah 1Sam 4:1 (compare 1Sam 7:12).

Brown-Driver-Briggs References

Profile

Aphek_1 • A city in the territory of Asher.

Aphek, a city allotted to the tribe of Asher.

• A location first mentioned at Jos.13.4;
• referred to as Aphek or Aphik (NIV= Aphek) אֲפֵק.
  

Aphek was a city located in the territory allotted to the tribe of Asher in the northern part of Canaan. It is mentioned in Joshua 13:4 as part of the land that remained to be conquered after Joshua's initial campaigns. The city was later included in the list of cities given to the tribe of Asher (Joshua 19:30).

However, the tribe of Asher failed to drive out the Canaanite inhabitants of Aphek, as recorded in Judges 1:31. This failure to completely possess their allotted territory was a recurring issue for several Israelite tribes during the period of the judges.

The exact location of this Aphek in Asher's territory is uncertain, but it is generally associated with Tel Afek, a site near the Mediterranean coast, about 8 miles (13 km) north of Acco. Its proximity to the coast suggests that it may have been a strategic port city.

Apart from these brief mentions in the context of the land allotment and the incomplete conquest, no other significant events or details are recorded about this Aphek in the Bible.

All entries for Aphek: אֲפֵק