Lehi (Bible)

Sammson at Lehi(Engraving by B. Audran after F. Verdier, 1698.)
Samson defeating a Philistine, Trent Park, Enfield

Lehi (Hebrew: לֶחִי), also known as Ramath Lehi (רָמַת לֶחִי),[1] is a place mentioned in the Bible.

History

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The Book of Judges relates that Lehi was the site of an encampment by a Philistine army,[2] and the subsequent engagement with the Israelite leader Samson.[3] This encounter is famous for Samsons' use of a donkey's jawbone as a club,[4] and the name Ramath Lehi means Jawbone Hill.[1]

During the Israelite Monarchy, Lehi was the site of another battle between Israel and Philistine forces. Here the text relates that Shammah the Hararite (one of David's Mighty Warriors) held his ground in a field of lentils, when the Israelites retreated.[5]

Location

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The exact site of Lehi is unknown, but one suggested location is ʿAin Hanniyeh.[6]

References

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  1. ^ a b Judges 15:17.
  2. ^ Judges 15:9.
  3. ^ Judges 15:15.
  4. ^ Comay, Joan; Brownrigg, Ronald (1993). Who's Who in the Bible: The Old Testament and the Apocrypha, The New Testament. New York: Wing Books. pp. Old Testament, 316–317.
  5. ^ 2 Samuel 23:11-12.
  6. ^ McKinny, Chris (2018). ""Shall I Die of Thirst?" The Location of Biblical Lehi, En-hakkore, and Ramath-lehi". Journal of Archaeology and Text. 2: 53–71. doi:10.21461/AT012018.53-72 (inactive 1 November 2024). ISSN 2523-2355.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of November 2024 (link)