Ephes Dammin
“Boundary of blood, or cessation of bloodshed”
Summary
Ephes-dammim (meaning 'boundary of blood' or 'cessation of bloodshed') was a location between Socoh and Azekah in Judah where the Philistines encamped before the famous battle in which David slew Goliath. It also appears in abbreviated form as Pas-dammim.
☩Location and Name
Ephes-dammim lay between Socoh and Azekah in the territory of Judah, in the valley of Elah. Its name likely means 'boundary of blood' or 'cessation of bloodshed,' possibly referring to previous battles in this strategic valley. The same site appears in shortened form as Pas-dammim ('portion of blood') in 1 Chronicles 11:13, where Eleazar the son of Dodo stood with David against the Philistines. The valley of Elah served as a natural invasion route from Philistine territory into the Judean hills.
☩David and Goliath
At Ephes-dammim, 'the Philistines gathered together their armies to battle, and were gathered together at Shochoh, which belongeth to Judah, and pitched between Shochoh and Azekah, in Ephes-dammim. And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and pitched by the valley of Elah' (1 Sam 17:1-2). From this Philistine encampment, Goliath emerged daily for forty days to challenge Israel, until the young shepherd David accepted the challenge and slew him with a single stone.
References
- 1.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Ephes-dammim," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).