Etam (biblical town)

Etam was the name of two places mentioned in the Hebrew Bible.

1. A town in Judah:

Etam is listed as a town within the territory of the tribe of Judah (Joshua 15:60). It is grouped with other towns in the vicinity of Bethlehem. The location of this Etam is generally identified with Khirbet el-Khokh, southwest of Bethlehem.

2. The Rock of Etam:

The "Rock of Etam" is a place mentioned in the Book of Judges (Judges 15:8, 11). Samson fled to the top of the Rock of Etam after slaughtering many Philistines. The men of Judah, fearing retribution from the Philistines, went to the Rock of Etam to persuade Samson to surrender himself. The exact location of the Rock of Etam is uncertain, but it was likely located in the hill country of Judah, not far from the territory of the Philistines. Some scholars suggest its proximity to the town of Etam, however, the text does not explicitly make that connection. The biblical account emphasizes its rocky and inaccessible nature.