Ramathaim-zophim: The two heights of the Zophites or of the watchers (only in)
(1 Samuel 1:1)
"in the land of Zuph"
(1 Samuel 9:5) Ramathaim is another name for Ramah
(1 Samuel 1:1). One of the Levitical families descended from Kohath, that
of Zuph or Zophai
(1 Chronicles 6:26,35) had a district assigned to them in
Ephraim, which from this circumstance was called "the land of Zuph,"
and hence the name of the town, "Zophim." It was the birth-place of
Samuel and the seat of his authority
(1 Samuel 2:11; 7:17) It is
frequently mentioned in the history of that prophet and of David
(1 Samuel 15:34; 16:13; 19:18-23) Here Samuel died and was buried
(1 Samuel 25:1) This town has been identified with the modern Neby
Samwil ("the prophet Samuel"), about 4 or 5 miles north-west of
Jerusalem. But there is no certainty as to its precise locality. Some
have supposed that it may be identical with Arimathea of the New
Testament.
