Original Word: עֵיטָם
Part of Speech: Proper Name Location
Transliteration: `Eytam
Pronunciation: ay-tawm'
Phonetic Spelling: (ay-tawm')
KJV: Etam
NASB: Etam
Word Origin: [from H5861 (עַיִט - birds of prey)]

1. hawk-ground
2. Etam, a place in Israel

Etam

From ayit; hawk-ground; Etam, a place in Palestine -- Etam.

see HEBREW ayit

Word Origin
from it
Definition
three places in Isr.
NASB Translation
Etam (5).

עֵיטָם proper name, of a location (perhaps animal-name, from עַיִט, compare Gray^{Prop. Names 93}); —

1 Ηταμ, ᵐ5^L Ιταμ, a. cliff, ׳סְעִיף סֶלַע ע Judges 15:8,11 perhaps near town עֵיטָם, see following, but at ±Ar¹‡ Isma±£n near edge of Shephelah, west-southwest from Jerusalem according to Schick^{ZPV x (1887), 143 ff.}

2 Αιταν[μ], etc., city fortified by Rehoboam 2 Chronicles 11:6, between Bethlehem and Tekoa, = ±Ain ±At¹n approximately 2 miles south-southwest from Bethlehem, Buhl^{Geogr. 92} GFM^{Judges 15:8}, near Urtâs Rob^{BR i. 477}; clan in Judah 1 Chronicles 4:3.

3 Αιταν[μ], in Simeon 1 Chronicles 4:32 (Be [not Oettli Kau Kit] reads עֵתֶר from Joshua 15:42).

Summary of Biblical Occurrences

1. Judges 15:8, 11 – “the cleft of the rock of Etam,” Samson’s temporary refuge after striking the Philistines.
2. 1 Chronicles 4:3 – Etam listed among the descendants of Judah.
3. 1 Chronicles 4:32 – Etam named as one of five Simeonite towns within Judah.
4. 2 Chronicles 11:6 – Rehoboam fortifies Etam as part of Judah’s defensive line.

People Named Etam

A Judahite ancestor (1 Chronicles 4:3) whose descendants include Jezreel, Ishma, Idbash, and their sister Hazzelelponi. His inclusion in the genealogical records of Judah underscores the careful preservation of tribal lineage and inheritance rights after the exile. In the broader salvation narrative, such records testify to God’s faithfulness in maintaining the Messianic line promised through Judah (Genesis 49:10).

Places Called Etam

1. The Rock or Cleft of Etam
• Location and Setting: A rugged limestone crag in the Shephelah of Judah, probably overlooking the Sorek Valley. The topography—steep cliffs and natural caves—afforded a defensible stronghold.
• Biblical Event: Following the burning of his wife and father-in-law, Samson “went down and stayed in the cleft of the rock of Etam” (Judges 15:8). There the men of Judah negotiated his surrender to the Philistines.
• Theological Notes: Samson’s retreat portrays the troublesome coexistence between Israel and the Philistines during the judges period. The rock itself foreshadows the concept of refuge found ultimately in the Lord (Psalm 18:2).

2. The Town of Etam in Judah
• Old Testament References: Listed among Simeonite towns (1 Chronicles 4:32) and later fortified by Rehoboam (2 Chronicles 11:6).
• Strategic Importance: Standing roughly midway between Bethlehem and Tekoa, it guarded approaches to Jerusalem from the southwest. Rehoboam’s building program aimed to secure Judah after the northern tribes’ secession (1 Kings 12).
• Hydraulic Works: Post-biblical sources (Josephus, Talmud, and later Roman aqueducts) associate the vicinity with abundant springs and reservoirs (“Solomon’s Pools”), which supplied water to Jerusalem. Such engineering reveals the practical wisdom God granted Israel’s kings for the welfare of His people (cf. Ecclesiastes 2:6).

3. Possible Identification with Biblical Etham

Some scholars connect Etam with “Etham” in the exodus itinerary (Exodus 13:20; Numbers 33:6–8), though the spellings and locations differ. If the link is correct, it would highlight a recurring pattern in which God provides both water and safe passage for His covenant people.

Historical and Archaeological Observations

• Proposed Sites:

– Khirbet el-Khokh (near modern Artas), favored for the rock of Etam.

– ‘Ain ‘Atan / Wadi el-Biyar, matching Josephus’ description of “Ethan” as a lush, watered region fifty furlongs from Jerusalem (War 7.6.6).
• Excavations reveal Second Temple and Byzantine structures, confirming continuous occupation into the New Testament era.

Ministry Lessons and Devotional Applications

• Refuge in the Midst of Conflict – Samson’s retreat to Etam illustrates the believer’s need to seek God as a rock of safety when beset by spiritual enemies (Psalm 31:3).
• Stewardship of Resources – The waterworks near Etam exemplify prudent use of God-given resources for communal blessing, encouraging present-day stewardship in church and society.
• Strengthened Defenses – Rehoboam’s fortification of Etam after national division teaches proactive faithfulness: God’s people are called to shore up spiritual defenses through prayer, sound doctrine, and mutual accountability (Ephesians 6:10–18).

Prophetic and Christological Contours

The rock imagery surrounding Etam anticipates the ultimate “Rock of our salvation” (Psalm 95:1) realized in Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 10:4). As Samson was delivered over yet defeated his enemies, so Christ, though handed to His foes, triumphed over them at the cross. Etam therefore contributes a small but meaningful strand to the tapestry of redemptive history.

Selected Key Reference

Judges 15:11 – “Then three thousand men of Judah went down to the cleft of the rock of Etam and said to Samson, ‘Do you not realize that the Philistines rule over us? What is this you have done to us?’ He replied, ‘As they did to me, so I have done to them.’”

Conclusion

Etam surfaces in Scripture as ancestor, refuge, and fortified town, each occurrence reinforcing themes of covenant faithfulness, divine protection, and wise governance. Though mentioned only five times, its testimony beckons believers to find their sure shelter and enduring strength in the Lord.

עֵיטָ֔ם עֵיטָ֖ם עֵיטָ֣ם עֵיטָֽם׃ עֵיטָם֒ עיטם עיטם׃ ‘ê·ṭām ‘êṭām eiTamInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts