Ezel

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

EZEL . The spot where Jonathan arranged to meet David before the latter’s final departure from the court of Saul (  1 Samuel 20:19 ). The place is not mentioned elsewhere, and it is now generally admitted that the Heb. text of this passage is corrupt. The true reading seems to have been preserved by the LXX [Note: Septuagint.] , according to which we should read in   1 Samuel 20:19 ‘yonder cairn,’ and in   1 Samuel 20:41 ‘from beside the cairn.’

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

("the stone".) Near Saul's house, the scene of David and Jonathan's parting ( 1 Samuel 20:19). At  1 Samuel 20:41 instead of "out of a place toward the S." Smith's Bible Dictionary reads, "David arose from close to the stone heap" ( 'Argob for Negeb ; so Septuagint). But KJV is better, from the side of the S., in relation to Jonathan's position; accordingly David next flees southward, to Nob.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

E'zel. (Departure). Ezel. The Stone, A well-known stone in the neighborhood of Saul's residence, the scene of the parting of David and Jonathan.  1 Samuel 20:19.

Holman Bible Dictionary

 1 Samuel 20:19 1 Samuel 19:2 1 Samuel 20:41

Morrish Bible Dictionary

Some stone, or cairn, near Saul's residence, the scene of the interview of David and Jonathan.  1 Samuel 20:19 .

Easton's Bible Dictionary

 1 Samuel 20:19

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

occurs only in the name Eben-Ezel (Hebrews with the art. repeated, ha- E'ben ha-E'zel, חָאֶבֶן הָאֶזֶל [in pause אָזֶל , A'Zel], The Stone Of The Departure, perhaps i.e., Mile-Stone; Sept. Τὸ ῾Εργὰβ v.r. Ἔργον and Ὁ Λίθος ] Ἐκεῖνο ; Vulg. Lapis Cui Nomen Est Ezel; A.V. "the stone Ezel"), an old testimonial-stone in the neighborhood of Saul's residence, the scene of the parting of David and Jonathan when the former finally fled from the court ( 1 Samuel 20:19). It seems to have derived its name from some early circumstance not recorded. At the second mention of the spot ( 1 Samuel 20:41) the Hebrews text ( מֵאֵצֶל הִנֶּגֶם A.V. "out of a place toward the south," literally "from the slope of the south;" Sept. Ἀπὸ Τοῦ Ἀργάβ ,Vulg. De Loco Qui Vergebat Ad Austrum) is, in the opinion of some critics, corrupt, as indicated by the Sept., which in both cases has Ergab or Argab (i.e. אִרְגֹּב , Argob', a Heap of stones) in  1 Samuel 20:19 for the Hebrews Eben, "stone," and in  1 Samuel 20:41 for han-negeb, "the south." The sense in  1 Samuel 20:41 would then be as follows: "David arose from close to the stone heap" — close to which (the same preposition, אֵצֶל ; A.V. "by") it had been arranged beforehand that he should remain ( 1 Samuel 20:19). Other interpreters, however, render simply "on the south side," a signification which sufficiently suits the circumstances. (See Beth-Ezel).

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ē´zel ( האזל , hā - 'āzel  ; Septuagint παρὰ τὸ ἐργὰβ ἐκεῖνο , pará tó ergáb ekeı́no ): As it stands, the narrative in  1 Samuel 20:19 records the tryst of Jonathan with David at the stone Ezel. The name occurs only here. There is general agreement that the text is corrupt, but there is no agreement as to how it should be restored. The Septuagint reads "this mound" (the Revised Version (British and American), margin), or "yonder cairn"; and in   1 Samuel 20:41 instead of "out of a place toward the South" it reads "from beside the mound" or "cairn." Dr. Cheyne suggests "yonder juniper tree" ( Encyclopaedia Biblica , under the word).