ETHER e’ thər (עֶ֖תֶר; ̓Αθέρ). One of the nine cities of the tribe of Judah (Josh 15:42) given to the tribe of Simeon (19:7). The place suggested for the city is Khirbet el ’Atr, near Beit Jibrîn. It was located in the Negev of Judah between Libnah and Ashan. The site is prob. to be sought on the border of the Negev, but thus far no positive identification of the city by competent authorities has been made. In this instance, there is a clear example of transference of two cities—Ether and Ashan, which were removed from the end of the Negev list (19:7) to one of the districts of the Shephelah country (15:42).