beautiful, a town of Judah (Mic 1:11), identified with es-Suafir, 5 miles south-east of Ashdod.

("beautiful".) A village addressed by Micah (Mic 1:11). "In the mountain district between Eleutheropolis and Ascalon" (Eusebius and Jerome, Onomast.). In this direction lies now es Sawafir, seven miles N.E. of Ascalon, and twelve W. of Beit Jibrin (Eleutheropolis), to the right of the coast road from Gaza; Sawafir is however not "in the mountain district," but on the open plain.

Sa'phir

City mentioned in Mic 1:11, the inhabitants of which are thus addressed, "Pass ye away . . . . having thy shame naked," when judgements are being proclaimed against Judah and Israel. The name signifies 'fair, beautiful': it should be changed into 'shame.' Probably one of the three villages named es Suafir near 31 42' N, 34 42' E.

Saph'ir

(fair), one of the villages addressed by the prophet Micha,

Mic 1:11

is described by Eusebius and jerome as "in the mountain district between Eleutheropolis and Ascalon," perhaps represented by the village es-Sawafir, seven or eight miles to the northeast of Ascalon.