Lexical Summary Tophel: Tophel Original Word: תֹּפֶל Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Tophel From the same as taphel; quagmire; Tophel, a place near the Desert -- Tophel. see HEBREW taphel NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as taphel Definition a place S.E. of the Dead Sea NASB Translation Tophel (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs תֹּ֫פֶל proper name, of a location in, or near, the 'Arabah; — Deuteronomy 1:1; = modern ˆafîleh, 15 miles southeast of Dead Sea RobBR ii. 187 see BurckhardtTravels 402 f., but ˆ = ת improbable V. Di Dr; ᵐ5 Τοφολ (compare LagBN54). תְּפִלָּה see [פלל]. [תִּפְלֶ֫צֶת] see [פלץ]. תִּפְסַח see I. פסח. תפף (√ of following; compare ᵑ7 תֻּמָּא Exodus 15:20 timbrel, Arabic Topical Lexicon Occurrences in Scripture Tophel is named a single time in the Old Testament, appearing in Moses’ opening words to Israel on the plains of Moab (Deuteronomy 1:1). Its solitary mention places it among a cluster of wilderness sites—Paran, Laban, Hazeroth, and Dizahab—that frame Moses’ recollection of the nation’s forty-year pilgrimage. Geographical Considerations The site is generally identified with modern Ṭuṭîleh (Tafila) in southern Jordan, east of the Arabah. Situated roughly midway between the Dead Sea’s eastern escarpment and the desert plateau that stretches toward Edom, it lay on a natural north–south caravan route. Its position “beyond the Jordan…in the wilderness, in the Arabah” (Deuteronomy 1:1) indicates a vantage point familiar to the second-generation Israelites who now stood opposite Canaan. Although never described as a large settlement, Tophel’s inclusion alongside better-known places underscores its role as a recognizable landmark in Israel’s collective memory. Context within Deuteronomy Moses deliberately strings together the names of wilderness stations to introduce his covenant sermon. Each name stirs remembrance of an episode in which Yahweh’s faithfulness and Israel’s frailty were displayed. Paran evokes the spy incident (Numbers 13–14); Hazeroth recalls Miriam’s and Aaron’s rebellion (Numbers 12). Tophel, though otherwise silent in the canon, functions the same way: as a signpost of the journey. The cumulative effect is pastoral. Before giving fresh covenant instruction, Moses first roots his audience in a geography of grace and chastening. Historical Background The late Bronze Age route that passed through Tophel connected the copper-rich Arabah with the Transjordan highlands. Excavations in the region have uncovered lime-plaster installations and metallurgical debris, aligning with the area’s ancient industrial character. Such findings support the plausibility of Israel’s presence in a zone busy with seasonal traffic yet sparsely populated, consistent with the biblical portrayal of wilderness encampments. Theological Significance 1. Memorial of God’s Guidance: By naming Tophel among the desert waypoints, Scripture affirms that every stage of Israel’s trek—whether celebrated or forgotten—was overseen by divine providence. Ministry Applications • Spiritual Geography: Believers today benefit from mapping their own “Tophels”—markers of God’s dealings that may never make headlines yet shape the journey of faith. Lessons for Faith and Obedience Tophel’s quiet presence in the text challenges readers not to overlook the ordinary steps in God’s extraordinary guidance. Remembering small mercies fortifies covenant loyalty. As Moses turned the memories of wilderness stations into exhortations, so the church is called to let past experiences—large and small—inform present obedience and future hope. Forms and Transliterations תֹּ֛פֶל תפל tō·p̄el Tofel tōp̄elLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Deuteronomy 1:1 HEB: פָּארָ֧ן וּבֵֽין־ תֹּ֛פֶל וְלָבָ֥ן וַחֲצֵרֹ֖ת NAS: Paran and Tophel and Laban KJV: [sea], between Paran, and Tophel, and Laban, INT: Paran between and Tophel and Laban and Hazeroth 1 Occurrence |
    |
drum).