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APHEK

(Heb. ʾăpēq)

1. A major city of antiquity, located at modern Ras el-}Ayin (143168) just above abundant springs which give rise to the Yarkon River. Its importance is related not only to the water source (exceeded in volume only by the sources of the Jordan), but to the fact that it controlled the Via Maris, forced inland by the swamps created by the Yarkon between the springs and the Mediterranean Sea, and thus passing through the narrow valley between the springs and the beginning of the central hill ridge just east of the site.

Aphek is mentioned in the Egyptian Execration Texts and in topographical lists of both Thutmose III and Amenhotep II. It is mentioned in the stories of Joshua’s conquests and of the Hebrew-Philistine conflict in the time of Eli and Samuel. The Hellenistic city located here was known as Pegae, and when Herod the Great rebuilt the city in the 1st century b.c.e. it was renamed Antipatris.

An archaeological survey of the site was made in 1923 by William F. Albright, and limited early excavations were conducted by J. Ory in 1935-36 and Abraham Eitan in 1961. A major campaign by a consortium of Israeli and American schools and organizations from 1972-1985 was directed by Moshe Kochavi and Pirhiya Beck of Tel Aviv University. This excavation produced both important finds and evidence of an extensive occupational history of the site beginning in Early Bronze I (3100), although an earlier Chalcolithic pit and scattered sherds were uncovered. Remains were documented from EB II, MB II A and B, LB I and II, Iron I and II, Persian (just off the tell proper), Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Umayyad, and Ottoman periods. Archaeologically the most impressive materials are from MB IIA-B (areas A and X) with clear sequential stratification within the period identified, and from the LB occupation (area X). Kochavi has identified 11 documents from the LB period — Egyptian, Hittite, Akkadian, Sumerian, and Canaanite — including a letter from Ugarit (in Akkadian).

References to Aphek (of the Sharon) are found in Josh. 12:18 (one of the cities whose king was defeated by Joshua); 1 Sam. 4 (city from which the Philistines engaged the Hebrews from Ebenezer in battle; the victorious Philistines captured the ark of the covenant); 1 Sam. 29:1 (the gathering place from which the Philistines launched their battle against Saul at Mt. Gilboa).

Bibliography. A. Eitan, P. Beck, and M. Kochavi, “Aphek,” NEAEHL 1:62-72.

Bruce C. Cresson

2. A northern Canaanite town bordering the land of the Amorites (Josh. 13:4) and traditionally identified with Afqā (231382), 37 km. (23 mi.) NE of Beirut.

3. A town alloted to the tribe of Asher in the vicinity of Achzib, Ummah, and Rehob (Josh. 19:29-30; Judg. 1:31). Most scholars identify this Aphek with Tell Kurdâneh, 9 km. (5.6 mi.) SE of Acco. Others identify it with Tell Kabri (164268), 4 km. (2.5 mi.) E of Nahariya.

4 A town in the Golan from which Ben-hadad launched an assault against the Israelites, and to which he fled after defeat by Ahab (1 Kgs. 20:26-30). It is probably the Aphek mentioned in Elisha’s prediction of Joash’s defeat of the Arameans (2 Kgs. 13:17). Traditionally identified with Afiq in the Naḥal {En Gev Valley, the town is now identified with {En Gev/Khirbet el-{Âsheq (210243).

Ronald A. Simkins

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

APHEK

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)