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Nephtoah
NEPHTOAH (nĕf-tō'a, Heb. nephtôah, an opening). A spring between Judah’s and Benjamin’s border (
NEPHTOAH nĕf tō’ ə (נֶפְתֹּ֔וחַ). A place name, used only in the expression “Waters of Nephtoah” (
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915)
nef-to’-a, nef’-to-a (nephtoach, occurs only in the expression ma`yan me nephtoach, "the fountain of the waters of Nephtoah"; Septuagint pege hudatos Naphtho): This spring was on the border line between Judah and Benjamin (
Conder would identify Lifta with the ancient ELEPH (which see) of Benjamin, and, on the ground that the Talmud (see Talmud Babylonian, Yom’ 31a) identifies Nephtoah with ETAM (which see), he would find the site of Nephtoah at `Ain `Atan, South of Bethlehem. The Talmud is not a sufficiently trustworthy guide when unsupported by other evidence, and the identification creates great difficulty with the boundary line. See Palestine Exploration Fund, III, 18, 43, Sh XVII.