Bible Encyclopedias
Naioth

The 1901 Jewish Encyclopedia

Place in which David and Samuel took refuge when the former was pursued by Saul (1 Samuel 19:18 et seq., 20:1). The meaning of the name as well as the nature of the place is doubtful: the "ketib" is , of disputed vocalization; the "ḳere" is , giving "of Naioth" (A. V.). Further, this name is, except in 1 Samuel 19:18, always followed by (= "in Ramah"); and the Septuagint supplies the ἐν Ῥαμά in this instance. It is evident therefore that Naioth was not a city, since it was in the city Ramah, although this objection has been refuted by Ewald ("Gesch." 3:49), who explains as "near Ramah." It may be that the name is a plural form meaning "habitations"; this view seems to have been taken by the Targum of Jonathan, which renders it (= "house of instruction"). Thus, Naioth was a kind of cenobium, containing several apartments.