Prior to Israel’s conquest of Canaan, the inhabitants of Kiriath-jearim were known as Gibeonites, after the name of a more important town in the region (Joshua 9:3; Joshua 9:17; see GIBEON). Kiriath-jearim was on the border between Benjamin and Judah, and was known also as Kiriath-baal, Baalah, Baale-judah and Kiriath-arim (Joshua 15:9; Joshua 15:60; Joshua 18:14; Joshua 18:21-28; 2 Samuel 6:2; Ezra 2:25). It is chiefly remembered because during the time of Saul and David the ark of the covenant rested there for twenty years (1 Samuel 7:1-2; 2 Samuel 6:2; for maps see BENJAMIN; JUDAH, TRIBE AND KINGDOM).