Japheth (2)
LocationsGeographical Setting
Japheth is a geographical region mentioned in the deuterocanonical Book of Judith as a border territory south of the Judean highlands.
What is the meaning of Japheth (2) in the Bible?
Japheth is a geographical location referenced solely in Judith 2:25 as the southern border of the Assyrian army's advance under Holofernes, situated opposite Arabia. The text provides no further topographical or historical details, leaving its precise identification uncertain among scholars.
SIGNIFICANCE
Recognizing Japheth as an undefined southern boundary helps readers appreciate the vast scale of the Assyrian campaign described in the Book of Judith. It underscores the narrative tension of Holofernes approaching the Judean frontier from an unexpected direction, highlighting the strategic surprise and divine intervention central to the story's theological message.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
- Why did the biblical author mention Japheth (2) in this passage?
- What cultural or historical assumption does Japheth (2) clarify?
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Source Attribution
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and shortened for clarity.