Lexical Summary Yearim: Yearim Original Word: יְעָרִים Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Jearim Plural of ya'ar; forests; Jearim, a place in Palestine -- Jearim. Compare Qiryath y'ariym. see HEBREW ya'ar see HEBREW Qiryath y'ariym NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as yaar Definition a mountain in Pal. NASB Translation Jearim (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs יְעָרִים proper name, of a mountain only הַריְֿעָרִים Joshua 15:10 (ᵐ5 πόλιν Ιαρειν), where explained as = כְּסָלוֺן (ᵐ5 Ξας(α)λων), modern Kesla, northeast of Beth Shemesh, compare RobBR ii. 30 n.; iii. 154. — קִרְיַת יְעָרִים see below קִרְיָת. יַעֲרֶשְׁיָה see sub. ערשׁ. יַעֲשַׂי, יעשׂו, יַעֲשִׂיאֵל see עשׂה. יִפְדְּיָה see sub. פדה. Topical Lexicon Geographic and Topographical Setting Mount Jearim is situated in the western highlands of the tribal allotment of Judah, roughly midway between Jerusalem and the Philistine plain. The mountain stands north of Chesalon, a settlement that guarded the ascent from the coastal lowlands up to the Judean hill country. Its slopes gave way to deep ravines leading toward the Valley of Sorek and, further south, toward the Valley of Elah. Thick woodland once covered the heights, making the site a natural landmark in boundary descriptions and a prominent feature along the ancient ridge route that linked Kiriath Jearim, Beth Shemesh, and Timnah. Biblical Context The sole explicit reference to יְעָרִים appears in the boundary record of Judah: “The border turned from Baalah westward to Mount Seir, passed to the northern slope of Mount Jearim (that is, Chesalon), went down to Beth Shemesh, and crossed to Timnah.” (Joshua 15:10) Here, Mount Jearim serves as a pivot point in the western leg of Judah’s frontier, separating the upland forests from the lower agricultural terraces. The name’s inclusion underscores both the strategic importance of the ridge and the region’s dense woodland character in the early settlement period. Historical Significance 1. Defensive Value: Forested heights provided cover and strategic surveillance over the approaches from Philistia. Control of Mount Jearim meant control of a key ingress route toward the heartland of Judah and eventually to Jerusalem. Theological and Ministry Insights • Boundaries Established by God: Joshua’s inspired record affirms that territorial lines are not arbitrary; they reflect divine providence. As Israel trusted God’s delineation of land, modern believers can rest in His sovereign ordering of their times and places (Acts 17:26). Related Names and Themes • Kiriath Jearim (“City of Forests”) – a reminder of the Ark’s sojourn and an emblem of God’s willingness to dwell among His people before the Temple era. Key Takeaways for Discipleship 1. Pay attention to “minor” verses; even a single mention of a place reflects the precision of Scripture and enriches geographic literacy. Forms and Transliterations יְעָרִ֛ים יערים yə‘ārîm yə·‘ā·rîm yeaRimLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Joshua 15:10 HEB: כֶּ֧תֶף הַר־ יְעָרִ֛ים מִצָּפ֖וֹנָה הִ֣יא NAS: of Mount Jearim on the north KJV: of mount Jearim, which [is] Chesalon, INT: the slope of Mount Jearim the north he 1 Occurrence |