Etam
    eyrie. (1.) A village of the tribe of Simeon (1 Chr. 4:32). Into
    some cleft ("top," A.V.,; R.V., "cleft") of a rock here Samson
    retired after his slaughter of the Philistines (Judg. 15:8, 11).
    It was a natural stronghold. It has been identified with Beit
    'Atab, west of Bethlehem, near Zorah and Eshtaol. On the crest
    of a rocky knoll, under the village, is a long tunnel, which may
    be the "cleft" in which Samson hid.

      (2.) A city of Judah, fortified by Rehoboam (2 Chr. 11:6). It
    was near Bethlehem and Tekoah, and some distance apparently to
    the north of (1). It seems to have been in the district called
    Nephtoah (or Netophah), where were the sources of the water from
    which Solomon's gardens and pleasure-grounds and pools, as well
    as Bethlehem and the temple, were supplied. It is now 'Ain
    'Atan, at the head of the Wady Urtas, a fountain sending forth a
    copious supply of pure water.



 Etam, their bird, their covering