saphir Summary and Overview

beautiful, a town of Judah (Micah 1:11), identified with es-Suafir, 5 miles south-east of Ashdod.

(fair), one of the villages addressed by the prophet Micha, #Mic 1:11| is described by Eusebius and jerome as "in the mountain district between Eleutheropolis and Ascalon," perhaps represented by the village es-Sawafir, seven or eight miles to the northeast of Ascalon.

SAPH'IR (fair), a town addressed by the prophet Micah. Mic 1:11. According to Eusebius and Jerome, it was in the mountain-district between Eleutheropolis and Ascalon. The Pal. Memoirs suggest es Suafic, some mud villages 5 miles south-east of Eadud (Ashdod), as its possible site, but say a site in the hills would suit better, though in other respects it agrees with the statements of Eusebius and Jerome.

("beautiful".) A village addressed by Micah (Micah 1:11). "In the mountain district between Eleutheropolis and Ascalon" (Eusebius and Jerome, Onomast.). In this direction lies now es Sawafir, seven miles N.E. of Ascalon, and twelve W. of Beit Jibrin (Eleutheropolis), to the right of the coast road from Gaza; Sawafir is however not "in the mountain district," but on the open plain.