Lexical Summary Apheq: Aphek Original Word: אֲפֵק Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Aphek, Aphik Or raphiyq {af-eek'}; from 'aphaq (in the sense of strength); fortress; Aphek (or Aphik), the name of three places in Palestine -- Aphek, Aphik. see HEBREW 'aphaq NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom aphaq Definition perhaps "fortress," the name of several places in Pal. NASB Translation Aphek (8), Aphik (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs אֲפֵק אֲפִיק (Judges 1:31) proper name, of a location Aphek (perhaps enclosure, or fortress). **now probable that 1 should include Joshua 12:18; 1 Samuel 4:1; 1 Samuel 29:1 and 2 Kings 13:22: ᵐ5L; town not near Jezreel, but at north end of philistine plain; compare ᵐ5Li. with Wecompare 254 Dr1Sam 29:11 RSOTJC 2.435 GASmGeogr. 400 f. BuhlGeogr. 212 (and N.) BuRS 235 f.; more doubtful are 1 Kings 20:26; 1 Kings 20:30; 2 Kings 13:17 (Kit 1 Kings 20:26); these, with Joshua 19:30; Judges 1:31, might denote an Aphek near Jezreel. 1 city near Jezreel (Assyrian Ap‡u, compare DlPa 287) Joshua 12:18; 1 Samuel 29:1 (אֲפֵ֑קָה, so) 1 Kings 20:26,30 compare 2 Kings 13:7 2 city in tribe of Asher Joshua 19:30; Judges 1:31 (אֲפִיק). 3 city northeast of Beirût, modern Afqa Joshua 13:4 אֲפֵ֑קָת see Di. 4 place near Mizpah 1 Samuel 4:1 (compare 1 Samuel 7:12). Topical Lexicon Geographical ProfileAphek (Hebrew אֲפֵק, Strong’s 663) serves as the name of several strategically placed towns or fortresses in the Old Testament. The shared meaning, “fortress” or “stronghold,” explains why different locations bear the same designation. The sites fall into four identifiable regions: 1. Phoenician frontier: on the Sidonian border (Joshua 13:4). Aphek in the Conquest of Canaan Joshua’s catalog of vanquished kings cites “the king of Aphek” among thirty-one total defeated adversaries (Joshua 12:18). The inclusion underscores that every fortified position, no matter how imposing, fell before the covenant faithfulness of the Lord: “Not one of all the good promises the Lord had made to the house of Israel had failed; everything was fulfilled” (Joshua 21:45). Boundary Marker and Tribal Allotment • Joshua 13:4 marks Aphek as a boundary point on the northwestern edge of Israel’s inheritance, delineating the land still to be fully possessed after Joshua’s military campaigns. Philistine Staging Ground 1 Samuel 4:1 records the first major Philistine assembly at Aphek, leading to Israel’s devastating defeat at Ebenezer and the capture of the ark. Israel’s error lay in treating the ark as a talisman rather than walking in covenant fidelity. The narrative warns against outward religion without inward submission. Decades later the Philistines again mustered at Aphek for their campaign up the Jezreel Valley (1 Samuel 29:1). God’s providence rescued David from fighting against his own people by prompting Philistine suspicion and sending him back to Ziklag. Through Aphek the Lord protected His anointed and preserved the messianic line. Battleground with Aram (Syria) 1 Kings 20 frames Aphek as the proving ground for Yahweh’s supremacy over pagan deities. After defeating Ben-Hadad in the hills, the Lord announces, “You have said, ‘The Lord is a god of the hills and not a god of the valleys.’ Therefore I will deliver all this great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that I am the Lord” (1 Kings 20:28). At Aphek Israel wins a decisive valley victory, and a collapsing city wall crushes twenty-seven thousand Arameans (1 Kings 20:30). More than a century later Elisha, on his deathbed, directs King Joash to shoot an arrow “toward the east—toward Aphek,” declaring, “This is the Lord’s arrow of victory over Aram” (2 Kings 13:17). Though Israel was spiritually compromised, God still defended His covenant people, granting three subsequent victories over the Syrians (2 Kings 13:18-19). Theological and Ministry Significance 1. Sovereignty over geography: Whether hill country, valley, or coastal plain, the Lord asserts dominion. Aphek’s varied terrains testify that God’s power is not confined to human conceptions or territorial deities. Summary Across nine Old Testament references, Aphek stands as a recurring theater of conflict where God demonstrates His supremacy, judges disobedience, protects His anointed, and reassures His covenant people of ultimate victory. Forms and Transliterations אֲפִ֖יק אֲפֵ֑קָה אֲפֵ֔קָה אֲפֵק֙ אֲפֵקָה֮ אפיק אפק אפקה בַּאֲפֵ֖ק בַאֲפֵֽק׃ באפק באפק׃ וַאֲפֵ֖ק ואפק ’ă·p̄ê·qāh ’ă·p̄êq ’ă·p̄îq ’ăp̄êq ’ăp̄êqāh ’ăp̄îq aFek aFekah aFik ba’ăp̄êq ḇa’ăp̄êq ba·’ă·p̄êq ḇa·’ă·p̄êq baaFek vaaFek wa’ăp̄êq wa·’ă·p̄êqLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Joshua 12:18 HEB: מֶ֤לֶךְ אֲפֵק֙ אֶחָ֔ד מֶ֥לֶךְ NAS: the king of Aphek, one; the king KJV: The king of Aphek, one; the king INT: the king of Aphek one the king Joshua 13:4 Joshua 19:30 Judges 1:31 1 Samuel 4:1 1 Samuel 29:1 1 Kings 20:26 1 Kings 20:30 2 Kings 13:17 9 Occurrences |
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