Lehi (2)

Lehi On the identification of this site Lieut. Conder remarks as follows (Tent Work in Palestine, 1:276):

"A little way north-west of Zoreah, seven miles from Belt 'Atab, is a low hill, on the slope of which are springs called 'Ayun Abu Meharib, or the 'fountains of the place of battles.' Close by is a little Moslem chapel, dedicated to Sheik Nedhir, or 'the Nazarite chief;' and, higher up, a ruin with the extraordinary title Ism Allah — 'the name of God.' The Nazarite chief is probably Samson, whose memory is so well preserved in this small district, and the place is perhaps connected with a tradition of one of his exploits. The Ism Allah is possibly a corruption of Esm'a Allah — 'God heard' — in which case the incident intended might be the battle of Ramath Lehi. Finally, we were informed by a native of the place that the springs were sometimes called 'Ayun KAra, in which name we should recognize easily the En hak-Kore, or fountain of the crier' (Jg 15:19). To say that this spot certainly represents Rlamath Lehi — 'the hill of the jaw-bone ' — would be too bold. It seems, however, clear that a tradition of one of Samson's exploits lingers here; the position is appropriate for the scene of the slaughter with the jaw-bone, and we have not succeeded in finding any other likely site."