ETAM . An altogether obscure place name, applied to a rock in a cleft of which Samson took refuge ( Judges 15:8 ), whence he was dislodged by the Judahites (v. 11), and therefore presumably in Judahite territory (cf. 1 Chronicles 4:3 ). Also applied to a village in the tribe of Simeon ( 1 Chronicles 4:32 ), and a town fortified by Rehoboam ( 2 Chronicles 11:6 ). Whether there are here one or two or three places, and where it or they were, are unanswered questions.

R. A. S. Macalister.