Places in the Bible Today:

Haeleph

Data

Translated NamesEleph, Haeleph
Typesettlement
Geo Data KML (for Google Earth)
GeoJSON (for GIS applications)

4 Possible Identifications

  1. another name for Zela (ancient): 40% confidence. It may be:
    1. cityscape of Har HotzvimKhirbet Salah

    2. satellite view of the region around Khirbet ErhaKhirbet Erha

    3. satellite view of the region around Khirbet Shab SalahKhirbet Shab Salah

  2. Nabi Samwil (modern): less than 10% confidence
    1. building at Nabi SamwilNabi Samwil

  3. Ras et Tahuneh (modern): less than 10% confidence
    1. satellite view of the region around Ras et TahunehRas et Tahuneh

  4. Lifta (modern): less than 10% confidence
    1. recent ruins at LiftaLifta

Verses (1)

Josh 18:28

Linked Data Identifiers

SourceIdentifier
Logos FactbookHaeleph
OpenBible.info (2007)Haeleph
OpenBible.infoae1d208 (Haeleph)
TIPNRHaeleph@Jos.18.28
UBS Names Databaseot ID_274
WikipediaEleph (redirect)

Sources

  1. Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary (1992): Ha-eleph (place)
  2. Baker Illustrated Bible Dictionary (2013): Haeleph
  3. Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000): Ha-Eleph
  4. Grollenberg, Atlas of the Bible (1957): Ha-eleph
  5. Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (2003)
  6. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1979): Ha-Eleph
  7. Lexham Bible Dictionary (2016): Ha-eleph
  8. McKinny, Historical Geography of the Administrative Division of Judah (2014): page 347
  9. New Interpreter’s Bible Dictionary (2009)
  10. New Unger’s Bible Dictionary (1988): Haeleph
  11. Zondervan Encyclopedia of the Bible (2010)

Confidence Trends over Time

This chart indicates how confidence in the identifications is changing over time. Each dot (connected by a dotted line) reflects the confidence of an identification over the preceding ten years (e.g., the 2009 dot reflects scholarship from 2000 to 2009), and the corresponding solid line reflects a best-fit line for the identification. Confidences that cluster near or below 0% indicate low confidence. Because of the small dataset, it's best to use this chart for general trends; if one identification is trending much higher than the others, for example, then you can probably have higher confidence in the identification. This chart only reflects the sources I consulted (listed above), not an exhaustive review of the literature.

Thumbnail Image Credits

Gilabrand, Contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data 2019, Alexey Goral, Ester Inbar

About

This page attempts to identify all the possible locations where this biblical place could be. The confidence levels add up to less than 100%, indicating that the modern location is uncertain. It's best to think about the confidences in relative rather than absolute terms. Often they reflect different schools of thought, each confident in their identifications.