Ophni
Ophni
(Heb. Ophni’, [always with the art. , ha-Ophni’, q. d. the Ophnite], perh. pressure, famisne [comp. ]; Sept. , but most MSS. omit; Yulg. 9 hni), a town in the north-eastern section of the tribe of Benjamin, named only in Jos 18:24, between Chephar- haammonai and Gaba (q.v.). Its name may perhaps imply that, like others of the towns of this: region, it was originally founded by some non- Israelitish tribe the Ophnites who in that case have left but this one slight trace of their existence (Smith). It was probably the Gufzith (), Gufna, or Beth-gufnin of the Talmud (Schwarz, p. 126), and doubtless the Gophna of Josephus ( Ptolemy, 4:16), a place which at the time of Vespasian’s invasion was apparently so important as to be second only to Jerusalem (War, 3:3, 5), as the center of a district or toparchy (Ant. 14:11, 2). It was fifteen Roman miles from Jerusalem on the way to Neapolis (Eusebius, Onomast. s.v. ). The place still survives in the modern Jifha or Jihna, two and a half miles north-west of Bethel (Reland, Palaest. p. 816; Wilson, Lands of the Bible, 2:41). The change from the Ain, with which Ophlni begins, to G, is common enough in the Sept. (comp. Gomorrah, Athaliah, etc.). It is now a poor village, in a fertile valley between high hills, and contains about 200 Christian inhabitants (Robinson, Bib. Res. 3:79). Remains of an old Greek church still exist there, especially a baptistery; End traces may be seen of the Roman road leading through the town from Jerusalem to Antipatris (ib. 2:138).
Fuente: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
Ophni (2)
The modern representative of this place, Jufna, is laid down on the Ordnance Map at two and three quarter miles north-west of Beitin (Bethel), and thus described in the accompanying Memoirs (2:294):
“An important Christian village, with a Latin church and convent (Mar Yusef), on an ancient road from the north to Jerusalem. The octagonal apse of this church, with colored glass in its east window, and a red-tiled pointed roof, forms a conspicuous feature of the village as seen from the south. The place is situated in a small plain, and on the south, higher up, is a spring called Ain Jelaztm. The road crosses the valley-bed by a small footbridge (now broken), with an inscription in Arabic, and on the south of this is a Greek church of St. George, with a fine walnut-tree and two meiss- trees. There are ruins of a town in the village, and pillar-shafts, as if of a former chapel, east of the Latin monastery. The hills and valleys are cultivated with olives, vines, figs, pears, apricots, and pomegranates. The population is stated by Robinson at two hundred, some Latins, some Greeks.” The Greek church is particularly described, ibid. page 323.
Fuente: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
Ophni
mouldy, a city of Benjamin (Josh. 18:24).
Fuente: Easton’s Bible Dictionary
Ophni
A town in the N.E. of Benjamin (Jos 18:24.). Possibly founded by a non Israelite tribe. The Gophna of Josephus, said to be only second in importance to Jerusalem (B.J. 3:3, section 5; Ant. 14:11, section 2, 12:2). Now Jufna, 2 1/2 miles N.W. of Bethel.
Fuente: Fausset’s Bible Dictionary
Ophni
OPHNI.A town of Benjamin (Jos 18:24); unknown.
Fuente: Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible
Ophni
A city of Benjamin, (Jos 18:24) perhaps from Gophni, weary.
Fuente: The Poor Mans Concordance and Dictionary to the Sacred Scriptures
Ophni
ofn (, ha-ophn; , Aphne): A place in the territory of Benjamin (Jos 18:24). The modern Jifneh, in a fine vale West of the road to Nablus and 2 1/2 miles Northwest of Bethel, might suit as to position; but the change in the initial letter from ain to jm is not easy. This is the Gophna of the rabbis (compare Josephus, Jewish Wars, III, iii, 5).
Fuente: International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Ophni
[Oph’ni]
City in Benjamin. Jos 18:24. Identified by some with Jufna, 31 58′ N, 35 13′ E.
Fuente: Concise Bible Dictionary
Ophni
H6078
A town of the Benjamites.
Jos 18:24
Fuente: Nave’s Topical Bible
Ophni
Oph’ni. (mouldy). A town of Benjamin, mentioned in Jos 18:24, the same as the Gophna, of Josephus; a place which, at the time of Vespasian’s invasion, was apparently so important as to be second only to Jerusalem. It still survives in the modern Jifna or Jufna, 23 miles northwest of Bethel.