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Zuphites

The Zuphites were the inhabitants of Zuph, a district mentioned in the Hebrew Bible as being in the hill country of Ephraim. The term is used as a demonym for people from that region, for example in the Saul narrative where Saul and his servant travel through the land of Zuph (1 Samuel 9:5–6).

Geographically, Zuph is associated with Ramathaim-zophim, the home of the prophet Samuel, and lies in the hill

In biblical usage, the Zuphites do not appear as a separately described people with distinctive customs or

See also: Ramathaim-zophim, Ephraim, Shiloh. Key references include 1 Samuel 9:5–6, 1 Samuel 9:11–12, and 1 Samuel

country
of
Ephraim
not
far
from
Shiloh.
The
exact
boundaries
and
location
of
Zuph
are
uncertain,
and
scholars
differ
on
identifying
the
precise
site.
The
designation
“Zuphites”
thus
denotes
residents
of
a
place
rather
than
a
distinct
ethnic
or
tribal
group.
lineage;
they
are
referenced
to
anchor
events
in
Saul’s
search
for
a
seer
and
in
the
broader
setting
of
Samuel’s
early
life.
There
are
no
widely
known
individuals
identified
specifically
as
Zuphites
in
canonical
texts.
1:1,
which
illustrate
the
geographical
use
of
the
term
and
its
role
in
the
narrative
about
Saul
and
Samuel.