Bible Encyclopedias
Jarmuth

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

jar´muth ( ירמוּת , yarmūth ̌ :

(1) A city of the Canaanites in the Shephelah (Joshua 15:35 ) of Judah whose "king," Piram, joined the league of the "five kings" against Joshua (Joshua 10:3-5 ), was defeated at Gibeon and slain at Makkedah (Joshua 10:23 ). One of the 31 "kings" defeated in Joshua' s campaign (Joshua 12:11 ). In Joshua 15:35 it is mentioned in conjunction with Adullam, Socoh and Azekah, and in Nehemiah 11:29 with Zorah, Zanoah and Adullam. Cheyne ( Encyclopedia Biblica ) suggests that the "Maroth" of Micah 1:12 may be a copyist's error for Jarmuth. In Eusebius, Onomasticon ( OS 2 132 31; 266 38) mention is made of a Ἰερμοχώς , Iermochō̇s , or Jermucha, 10 Roman miles Northeast of Eleutheropolis (Beit Jibrı̂n ), The site of this once important place is Khirbet el Yarmūk , a ruin, with many old walls and cisterns, on the top of a hill 1,465 ft. above sealevel. It is nearly 2 miles Northwest of Beit Nattı̂f , from which it is visible, and 8 1/2 miles, as measured on map, N.N.E. of Beit Jibrı̂n . Compare PEF , III, 128, Sh XVIII .

(2) A city of Issachar belonging to the "children of Gershon, of the families of the Levites" (Joshua 21:29 ); in the duplicate list in 1 Chronicles 6:73 we have Ramoth, while in the Septuagint version of Joshua 21:29 we have, in different VSS , Rhemmāth or Iermō̇th . In Joshua 19:21 "Remeth" occurs (in Hebrew) in the lists of cities of Issachar; in the Septuagint Rhémmas or Rhamáth . The name was probably "Remeth" or "Ramoth," but the place has never been identified with any certainty. See RAMOTH .