Bible Encyclopedias
Bahurim

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ba -hū´rim בּחרים , baḥurı̄m ; Βαουρείμ , Baoureı́m usually, but there are variants): A place in the territory of Benjamin which lay on an old road from Jerusalem to Jericho followed by David in his flight from Absalom (2 Sam 15:32 through 16:5ff). It ran over the Mount of Olives and down the slopes to the East. The Talmud identifies it with Alemath, the modern Almı̄t , about a mile beyond ‛Anātā , going from Jerusalem. If this identification is correct, Wādy Fārah may be the brook of water (2 Samuel 17:20 ). Here Paltiel was parted from his wife Miehal by Abner (2 Samuel 3:16 ). It was the home of Shimei, who ran along a ridge of the hill cursing and throwing stones at the fugitive king (2 Samuel 16:5; 1 Kings 2:8 ). In Bahurim Jonathan and Ahimaaz, the messengers of David, were concealed in a well by a loyal woman (2 Samuel 17:18 ). Azmaveth, one of David's heroes, was a native of Bahurim. In 2 Samuel 23:31 we should read, as in 1 Chronicles 11:33 , Barahumite.