Achshaph

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

A Canaanite royal city, whose king was smitten by Joshua ( Joshua 11:1;  Joshua 12:20;  Joshua 19:25). Within Asher; perhaps the modern Chaifa , in the Septuagint Ceaph . Conder (Pal. Expl. Qy. Star., April, 1876) identifies with Yasif . The hieratic papyrus (Brit. Mus., 1842, pl. 35-61), mentioning Aksapou (identified by M. Chabas with Achshaph), is the account of an Egyptian officer's travels in a chariot from near Aleppo to the vicinity of the sea of Saltlee, and thence to Egypt via Joppa. He is called a Mohar; his record is at least 3,000 years old. ("Voyage d'un Egypt. en Syrie, en Phenic., en Palest.": F. Chabas, Paris, 1866.)

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

ACHSHAPH . About 17 miles E. of Tyre, now called Iksaf or Kesaf , on N.E. border of territory assigned to Asher (  Joshua 19:25 ). Its king joined Jabin’s confederacy, which was defeated by Joshua, and the ruler of Achshaph was amongst the slain (  Joshua 11:1;   Joshua 12:20 ).

J. Taylor.

Morrish Bible Dictionary

A city on the border of Asher's lot. It is named between Beten and Alammelech.  Joshua 19:25 . Its king was among the thirty and one kings slain by the children of Israel, he having risen with others to oppose the division of the land.  Joshua 11:1;  Joshua 12:20 . It has been identified with Kefr Yasif, 32 57' N, 35 10' E.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Ach'shaph. (Fascination). A city within the territory of Asher, named between Beten and Alammelech,  Joshua 19:25, originally the seat of a Canaanite king.  Joshua 11:1;  Joshua 12:20.

People's Dictionary of the Bible

Achshaph ( Ăk'Shaf ), Enchantment.  Joshua 12:20. A city conquered by Joshua, and afterwards assigned to the tribe of Asher. It was not far from Accho.  Joshua 19:25.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

A royal city of the Canaanites,  Joshua 11:1 , conquered by Joshua, and assigned to the tribe of Asher,  Joshua 12:20;  19:25 .

Easton's Bible Dictionary

 Joshua 11:1 12:20 19:25

Holman Bible Dictionary

 Joshua 11:1 Joshua 19:25

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(Heb. Akshaph', אִבְשָׁ Š , Fascination: Sept. Ἀχασάφ ) a royal city of the Canaanites, in the northern part of Palestine ( Joshua 11:1) whose king was overthrown by Joshua ( Joshua 12:20). It was situated on the eastern boundary of the tribe of Asher, and is named between Beten and Alammelech ( Joshua 19:25). By some (see Reland, Paloest, p. 543) it has been regarded as the same as Achzib, but this is mentioned separately ( Joshua 19:29). By others (e.g. Hammesveld, 3, 237) it has been assumed to be the same as Accho or Acre, and Schwarz (Palest. p. 191) thinks it is the modern village Kefr-Yasif, five miles north-east of that town; but this region is too far west for the Biblical notices. Eusebius and Jerome (Onomast. s.v. Ἀκσαφ ) locate it at the foot of Mount Tabor, eight miles from Diocaesarea; but they have evidently confounded it with Chesulloth (see Keil's Comment. on  Joshua 11:1). Dr. Robinson is probably correct in identifying it with the ruined village Kesaf, around a large tree, two miles north-east of Kubrikah, a little south of the Litany, and nearly midway between the Mediterranean and the Upper Jordan (new ed. of Researches, 3, 55).

Tristram identifies this town with the modern Khaifa, at the mouth of the Kishon, north of Carmel (Bible Places, p. 215); but with little probability, as Khaifa, seems to be the חו , Choph (Cove), or "haven" of Asher and Zebulon ( Genesis 49:13; "sea-side,"  Deuteronomy 1:7; "shore,"  Judges 5:17;  Jeremiah 47:7; "coast,"  Joshua 9:1;  Ezekiel 25:16).

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ak´shaf ( אכשׁף , 'akhshāph , "sorcery," or "fascination"): A city in the northern part of the territory conquered by Joshua. The king of Achshaph was a member of the coalition against Israel under Jabin and Sisera. It is mentioned with Hazor, Megiddo, Taanach, etc., in the list of conquered kings. It is one of the cities marking the boundaries of the tribe of Asher ( Joshua 11:1;  Joshua 12:20;  Joshua 19:25 ). Several attempts have been made to identify the site of it, but explorers are not agreed as to the identification.

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblial Literature

Ach´shaph, a royal city of the Canaanites ( Joshua 11:1), has been supposed by many to be the same as Achzib, both being in the tribe of Asher. But a careful consideration of  Joshua 19:25;  Joshua 19:29, will make it probable that the places were different. There is more reason in the conjecture that Achshaph was another name for Accho or Acre, seeing that Accho otherwise does not occur in the list of towns in the lot of Asher, although it is certain, from  Judges 1:31, that Accho was in the portion of that tribe.