Lexical Summary En-dor or En Dor or En-dor: En-dor Original Word: עֵין־דּאֹר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance En-dor Or meyn Dowr {ane dore}; or Eyn-Dor {ane-dore'}; from ayin and dowr; fountain of dwelling; En-Dor, a place in Palestine -- En-dor. see HEBREW dowr NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom ayin and dor Definition "spring of dwelling," a town in Manasseh NASB Translation En-dor (3). Brown-Driver-Briggs עֵיןדֹּֿר proper name, of a location in Manasseh Joshua 17:11 (J E; omitted by ᵐ5), = דּוֺר ׳ע 1 Samuel 28:7 (Αελδωρ, ᵐ5L Αενδωρ), דּֿאֹר׳ע Psalm 83:11 (Gr חֲרוֺד ׳ע), Αενδωρ; Endûr, approximately 14 miles north-northeast from foregoing. Topical Lexicon Name and Location Ein-Dor (also rendered En-dor) means “spring of dwelling.” It lay on the northern edge of the Jezreel Valley, south of Mount Tabor and just west of the Hill of Moreh. Modern identification points to the village of Endur (Indur) or the nearby ruin Khirbet Safsafeh, overlooking a perennial spring that supplied the settlement. Strategically positioned on the slope above fertile plains, Ein-Dor commanded access between the Sea of Galilee and the Mediterranean coast. Biblical Occurrences 1. Joshua 17:11 lists Endor among the towns allotted to the half-tribe of Manasseh within the territories of Issachar and Asher: “Manasseh also had Beth-shan, Ibleam, the inhabitants of Dor, the inhabitants of Endor, the inhabitants of Taanach, and the inhabitants of Megiddo—six towns, along with their villages”. Historical Background Although allotted to Manasseh, Ein-Dor remained a Canaanite enclave for generations, illustrating Israel’s incomplete obedience in driving out the inhabitants (cf. Joshua 17:12-13). By the time of Saul, the town lay outside direct Israelite control, which explains why the king, encamped at nearby Shunem (1 Samuel 28:4), could reach the medium without immediate detection. The continuing presence of occult practitioners in Endor testifies to syncretistic influences that persisted in the land when Israel failed to eradicate idolatry. Psalm 83 alludes to the Judges-era victory of Gideon over Midian (Judges 7–8). Ein-Dor became shorthand for decisive, God-wrought defeat: just as Sisera fell at the Kishon and Midian at Ein-Dor, so the psalmist prays that future foes will experience the same judgment. Theological and Ministry Significance • Covenant Faithfulness versus Compromise Endor stands as a geographical witness to partial obedience. Manasseh possessed the territory on paper, yet the original inhabitants retained influence. The lingering stronghold became a snare that later tempted Saul. Believers today are warned that incomplete surrender to God’s commands leaves footholds for future sin. • Seeking Guidance Saul’s clandestine visit to Endor underscores the peril of turning from divine revelation to forbidden practices. His consultation with the medium violated Deuteronomy 18:10-12 and hastened his downfall. The episode affirms the sufficiency of God’s Word and the folly of alternative spiritual sources. • Victory through Divine Intervention Psalm 83:10 memorializes Endor as a site where God acted mightily for His people. The location thus bears a dual legacy—one of triumph when Israel trusted Yahweh, and one of tragedy when a king rejected Him. The contrast highlights the covenant principle articulated in 1 Samuel 2:30: “Those who honor Me I will honor, but those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed.” Archaeological Notes Surface pottery and architectural remains at Khirbet Endur indicate Iron Age occupation consistent with the biblical timeline. The spring still flows, confirming the appropriateness of the name. Though no definitive inscription bearing the toponym has been unearthed, the continuity of the Arabic place name lends weight to the identification. Lessons for Contemporary Discipleship 1. Obey fully—selective obedience seeds future crises. Ein-Dor thus speaks across the centuries, calling the people of God to wholehearted fidelity, reliance on Scripture, and confidence in the LORD’s saving power. Forms and Transliterations דֹּ֑אר דֹּר֙ דּֽוֹר׃ דאר דור׃ דר dō·wr dor dōr dōwrLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Joshua 17:11 HEB: וְיֹשְׁבֵ֤י עֵֽין־ דֹּר֙ וּבְנֹתֶ֔יהָ וְיֹשְׁבֵ֤י NAS: and the inhabitants of En-dor and its towns, KJV: and the inhabitants of Endor and her towns, INT: towns and the inhabitants of En-dor towns and the inhabitants 1 Samuel 28:7 Psalm 83:10 |
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