NOPHAH (Ma blast ;' in the Sept. this word is rendered arporreElicavoao, they kindled, as if pointed rip; ; but the Vulg. rightly makes it a proper name, Nofila). In sketching the history of the conquest of Moab by the Amorites, Moses quotes a fragment of a triumphal ode, apparently composed on the occasion by some Amorite poet, the last words of which are, Heshbon is perished even into Dibon, and we have wasted them even unto Nophah, which reacheth unto Medeba' (Num. xxi. 3o). Nophah is not elsewhere mentioned, and the whole passage is obscure, and has been variously interpreted by critics (see a summary of the interpretations in Barrett's Synopsis of Criti cisms, and Poole's Synopsis Crit.) The Hebrew phrase which follows Nophah 1tn1) may signify----(t), which extendeth to Medeba,' describing the extent of Nophah's territory ; (2), or, and to Medeba,' showing the extent of the de struction, without reference to Nophah ; (3), or, which belongeth to Medeba,' as if showing that Nophah was a town or place dependent on Medeba ; (4), or, which is at Medeba.' Still another inter
pretation is given by the Septuagint, and to some extent sanctioned by the Masoretic mark above the in Itni, showing that its authenticity was doubted ; and if it be removed the word t' will signify fire,' as rendered in the Greek wilp; and the translation will he fire (hath raged) unto Medeba' (Rosenmiiller, ad hoc.) Be the right interpretation what it may, it ap pears that Nophah was a town of Moab, situated between Heshbon and Medeba. The site has not been identified. We have no grounds for assuming its identity with Nobah of Bashan, as suggested by Gesenius (Thesaurus, p. 896).—J. L. P.