Aphek

Aphekah

(strength ), the name of several places in Palestine.

1. A royal city of the Canaanites, the king of which was killed by Joshua, ( Joshua 12:18 ) probably the same as APHEKAH in ( Joshua 15:53 )
2. A city, apparently in the extreme north of Asher, ( Joshua 19:30 ) from which the Canaanites were not ejected, ( Judges 1:31 ) though here it is APHIK. This is probably the same place as APHEK, ( Joshua 13:4 ) on the extreme north "border of the Amorites,"; identified with the Aphaca of classical times, the modern Afka .
3. A place at which the Philistines encamped while the Israelites pitched in Eben-ezer, before the fatal battle in which the sons of Eli were killed and the ark was taken. ( 1 Samuel 4:1 ) This would be somewhere to the northwest of and at no great distance from Jerusalem.
4. The scene of another encampment of the Philistines, before an encounter not less disastrous than that just named, --the defeat and death of Saul. ( 1 Samuel 29:1 ) It is possible that it may be the same place as the preceding.
5. A city on the military road from Syria to Israel. ( 1 Kings 20:26 ) It is now found in Fik , at the head of the Wady Fik , six miles east of the Sea of Galilee.

APHEK

a'-fek ('apheq, "fortress"; Aphek):

(1) In Joshua 12:18 we should probably read with the Septuagint "the king of Aphek in Sharon." This may correspond to Aphek in 1 Samuel 4:1. It was a royal city of the Canaanites whose king was slain by Josh. Probably it is the Aphek mentioned by Josephus as being near to Antipatris (BJ, II, xix, 1). Kakon, a strong position commanding the main entrance to Samaria might suit; but the name has perished.

(2) (Greek Taphek or Apheka):

A city in the lot of Asher (Joshua 13:4). The inhabitants were not ejected by Asher, nor is it said that they became tributary (Judges 1:31). In this passage it is written 'aphiq (Hebrew). It may be represented by 'Afqa on Nahr Ibrahim, although this is probably farther north than we should expect.

(3) To this place the Philistines gathered their hosts, while the Israelites pitched by the fountain which is in Jezreel (1 Samuel 29:1). It has been generally supposed that these two positions were over against each other, and that therefore Aphek must be sought in the plain of Esdraelon. No place answering this description has been found here. Fuqu`ah on Mount Gilboa is plainly impossible. If, however, this was only the rallying point of the Philistines from which they went up to Jezreel (1 Samuel 29:11), it may be identical with the Aphek in the plain of Sharon (compare 1 Samuel 29:1 above).

(4) A city on the plateau east of the Jordan, where disaster befell Benhadad (1 Kings 20:26,30). The same place may be intended in 2 Kings 13:17. The modern Fiq or Afiq (for both forms are heard) on the brow of the hill beyond Qal`at el-Chucn, east of the Sea of Galilee, probably represents this ancient city.

W. Ewing