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Zaphon

Locations
Modern Location Likely Tell el-Bashir or a site in the Gilead region of modern-day Jordan
Coordinates 32.3500, 35.7500

Geographical Setting

Zaphon was a settlement in the tribal territory of Gad, identified in the Hebrew Bible as the meeting place for the elders of Gilead during the time of the Judge Jephthah.

What is the meaning of Zaphon in the Bible?

A settlement in the eastern Jordan valley within the territory of the tribe of Gad, recorded as the location where the elders of Gilead convened with Jephthah.

SIGNIFICANCE

Identifying Zaphon clarifies the political geography of the Transjordanian tribes during the period of the Judges, illustrating how local leadership structures operated independently of central authority in the western territories.

Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide

Geopolitical & Terrain Context: Zaphon (located near modern Likely Tell el-Bashir or a site in the Gilead region of modern-day Jordan) held strategic importance. Understanding its position and trade routes explains why key biblical events unfolded here.
Bible Study Reflection Prompts:
  • Why did the biblical author mention Zaphon in this passage?
  • What cultural or historical assumption does Zaphon clarify?

Related Topics

Siloam, Pool OfMakedGittaimJudaMegiddoAdida

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.

How to Cite This Entry

"Zaphon." Ancient Context Dictionary. Accessed 2026. https://ancientcontext.com/context/zaphon/
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