etam

Updated: June 7, 2025

The cave of the five kings at Makkedah; the 'caves, and dens, and strongholds, and 'rocks, and 'pits, and 'holes' in which the Israelites took shelter from the Midianites in the time of Gideon, from the Philistines in the time of Saul; the cleft of the cliff Etam, into which Samson went down to escape the vengeance of his enemies; the caves of David at Adullam and at Maon, and of Saul at Engedi; the cave in which Obadiah hid the prophets of the Lord; the caves of the robber hordes above the plain of Gennesareth; the sepulchral caves of the Gadarene demoniacs; the cave of Jotopata, where Josephus and his countrymen concealed themselves in their last struggle, continue from first to last what has been called the cave-life of the Israelite nation."

S. (Sabine) Baring-Gould - Castles and Cave Dwellings of Europe

So the Philistines went up, and burnt her and her father. Then Samson said to them, "If this is the way you do, I will not stop until I have had my revenge on you!" So he fought fiercely and killed many of them; then he went and stayed in a cavern in the cliff of Etam. When the Philistines went up and camped in Judah and made a raid on Lehi, the Judahites said, "Why have you come up against us?"

Charles Foster Kent - The Children's Bible

Then three thousand men of Judah went to the top of the rock Etam, and said to Samson, "Knowest thou not that the Philistines are rulers over us? what is this that thou hast done unto us?" And he said unto them, "As they did unto me, so have I done unto them." And they said unto him, "We are come down to bind thee, that we may deliver thee into the hand of the Philistines."

Walter Barnes - Types of Children's Literature

Then said the men of Judah, for what reason Are you come up against us at this season? And they made answer, We are come to bind Samson, to do to him in the same kind As he hath done to us. Then there went up Three thousand men of Judah to the top Of the rock Etam, and to Samson said, Dost thou not know that we have long obey'd The Philistines?

John Bunyan - Works of John Bunyan — Volume 02

Then three thousand men of Judah went to the top of the rock Etam, and said to Samson, Knowest thou not that the Philistines are rulers over us? what is this that thou hast done unto us? And he said unto them, As they did unto me, so have I done unto them. And they said unto him, We are come down to bind thee, that we may deliver thee into the hand of the Philistines.

- New Etext of Bible: [King James Version]