Category:Ramathaim-zophim

---excerpt from the Illustrated Bible Dictionary

Ramathaim-zophim - The two heights of the Zophites or of the watchers (only in 1 Samuel 1:1), "in the land of Zuph" (1 Samuel 9:5). Ramathaim is another name for Ramah (4). One of the Levitical families descended from Kohath, that of Zuph or Zophai (1 Chronicles 6:26, 1 Chronicles 6:35), had a district assigned to them in Ephraim, which from this circumstance was called "the land of Zuph," and hence the name of the town, "Zophim." It was the birth-place of Samuel and the seat of his authority (1 Samuel 2:11; 1 Samuel 7:17). It is frequently mentioned in the history of that prophet and of David (1 Samuel 15:34; 1 Samuel 16:13; 1 Samuel 19:18). Here Samuel died and was buried (1 Samuel 25:1). This town has been identified with the modern Neby Samwil ("the prophet Samuel"), about 4 or 5 miles north-west of Jerusalem. But there is no certainty as to its precise locality. Some have supposed that it may be identical with Arimathea of the New Testament. (See MIZPAH).