Bible Dictionary
Tophel
Tophel was a place mentioned in Moses’ address to Israel in the wilderness. Its exact location is uncertain, though it has been associated with the region near modern Tafileh east of the Dead Sea.
Definition
Tophel was a place mentioned in Moses’ address to Israel in the wilderness. Its position is uncertain, and the places named with it have also not been satisfactorily identified.
Biblical Usage
Tophel occurs in Deuteronomy 1:1 as one of the locations used to describe where Moses addressed Israel.
Historical Background
Some have associated it with modern et-Tafileh or Tufileh, southeast of the Dead Sea and near routes between Petra and Kerak, but the identification remains uncertain.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Lime, a place in the wilderness of Sinai (Deut. 1:1), now identified with Tafyleh or Tufileh, on the west side of the Edomitish mountains.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
(mortar), (1:1) has been identified with Tufileh on a wady of the same name running north of Bozra toward the southeast corner of the Dead Sea.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>to'-fel (tophel; Tophol): This name is found in a passage with many difficulties (De 1:1). The verse ostensibly makes clearer the position occupied by the camp of Israel where Moses addressed the people, by reference to certain other places which might be presumed to be better known. Not one of them, however, has been satisfactorily identified. Some think Tophel may be represented by the modern et-tafeleh, 15 miles Southeast of the Dead Sea, on the caravan road from Petra to Kerak. Apart from the question of position, the change of "t" to "T" is not easily explained. Meantime we must suspend judgment.</p><p>W. Ewing</p>