Baalath
Jump to: Hitchcock'sSmith'sATSISBEEaston'sConcordanceThesaurusHebrewLibrarySubtopicsTerms
Topical Encyclopedia
Etymology and Meaning:
The name "Baalath" is derived from the Hebrew root "Baal," which means "lord" or "master." The feminine form "Baalath" can be translated as "mistress" or "lady." This name reflects the Canaanite influence in the region, where Baal was a prominent deity.

Biblical References:
Baalath is mentioned in the Old Testament as a city built by King Solomon. It is referenced in 1 Kings 9:18 and 2 Chronicles 8:6. The Berean Standard Bible provides the following account:

· 1 Kings 9:18 : "Baalath, and Tamar in the Wilderness of Judah."
· 2 Chronicles 8:6 : "as well as Baalath and all the store cities that Solomon had, all the chariot cities, and the cities for his horsemen—whatever Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem, Lebanon, and throughout the land of his dominion."

Historical and Geographical Context:
Baalath was located in the territory of the tribe of Dan, near the border with the tribe of Ephraim. Its exact location is not definitively known today, but it is believed to have been situated in the northern part of the land allotted to Dan. The city was part of Solomon's extensive building projects, which included fortifications and storage cities to strengthen his kingdom and support his military endeavors.

Cultural and Religious Significance:
The name Baalath suggests a connection to the Canaanite religious practices, where Baal worship was prevalent. However, under Solomon's reign, the city was incorporated into the Israelite kingdom and served as a strategic and administrative center. Solomon's building projects, including Baalath, were part of his efforts to consolidate power and establish a centralized government.

Theological Implications:
The mention of Baalath in the context of Solomon's reign highlights the king's wisdom and organizational skills in managing the kingdom's resources. However, it also serves as a reminder of the potential dangers of syncretism and the influence of surrounding pagan cultures. Solomon's later years were marked by a turning away from exclusive worship of Yahweh, influenced by his foreign wives and their gods, which ultimately led to the division of the kingdom after his death.

Archaeological Insights:
While Baalath itself has not been conclusively identified in archaeological excavations, the broader region has yielded findings that illuminate the period of Solomon's reign. These include fortifications, administrative buildings, and artifacts that reflect the prosperity and complexity of the United Monarchy.

Conclusion:
Baalath stands as a testament to Solomon's ambitious building projects and the geopolitical realities of ancient Israel. Its mention in the biblical narrative underscores the interplay between faithfulness to God and the challenges posed by external cultural influences.
Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary
Baalath

a rejoicing; our proud lord

Smith's Bible Dictionary
Baalath

[BAAL, Nos. 3,4]

ATS Bible Dictionary
Baalath

A town in the tribe of God, Joshua 19:44. This lay not far from Bethhoron. It is uncertain whether it is the same as the Baalath rebuilt by Solomon, 1 Kings 9:18 2 Chronicles 8:6.

Easton's Bible Dictionary
A town of the tribe of Dan (Joshua 19:44). It was fortified by Solomon (1 Kings 9:18; 2 Chronicles 8:6). Some have identified it with Bel'ain, in Wady Deir Balut.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
BAALATH

ba'-a-lath ba`alath; (A, Baalon): between Shikkeron (Ekron) and Jabnoel unless, as seems probable, the suggestion of M. Clermont-Ganneau (Rev. Crit, 1897, 902) is correct that for har (= "mount"), we should read nahar ("river"). In this case the border in question would be the Nahr rubin. Here there is an annual feast held-attended by all classes and famous all over Syria-which appears to be a real survival of "Baal worship."

(1) A town on the border of Dan (Joshua 19:44) associated with Eltekeh and Gibbethon-possibly Bela`in.

(2) ("Mistress-ship"): A store city of Solomon, mentioned with Beth-horon (1 Kings 9:18 2 Chronicles 8:6) and possibly the same as (1).

Strong's Hebrew
1192. Baalath Beer -- "mistress of a well," a city in Simeon
Baalath Beer. 1191, 1192. Baalath Beer. 1193 . "mistress of a well,"
a city in Simeon. Transliteration: Baalath Beer Phonetic ...
/hebrew/1192.htm - 6k

1191. Baalath -- a city in Dan
... 1190, 1191. Baalath. 1192 . a city in Dan. Transliteration: Baalath
Phonetic Spelling: (bah-al-awth') Short Definition: Baalath. ...
/hebrew/1191.htm - 6k

Library

Emmaus. Kiriath-Jearim.
... Kiriath-jearim was before-time called Baale, 2 Samuel 6:2; or Baalath, 1 Chronicles
13:6. Concerning it, the Jerusalem writers speak thus; "We find, that they ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 45 emmaus kiriath-jearim.htm

Solomon's Reign.
... but in his now extended empire. The most famous of these were Tadmor or
Palmyra and Baalath, or Baalbic. The former built at an ...
/.../tidwell/the bible period by period/chapter xii solomons reign.htm

How Solomon Fortified the City of Jerusalem, and Built Great ...
... happen. Moreover, he built two other cities not far from it, Beth-horon
was the name of one of them, and Baalath of the other. He ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 6 how solomon fortified.htm

Babylonia and Assyria
... who revealed himself in the sun, and whom he addressed as Baal or "Lord." By the
side of Baal stood his colourless reflection, the goddess Baalath, who owed ...
/.../early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter vi babylonia and assyria.htm

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 6. <. ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm

Thesaurus
Baalath (5 Occurrences)
... Standard Bible Encyclopedia. BAALATH. ...Baalath (5 Occurrences). Joshua 19:8 and all
the villages that were around these cities to Baalath Beer, Ramah of the South ...
/b/baalath.htm - 9k

Baalath-beer (2 Occurrences)
Baalath-beer. Baalathbeer, Baalath-beer. Ba'alath-beer . Easton's Bible
Dictionary ... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. BAALATH-BEER. ...
/b/baalath-beer.htm - 8k

Baalath-beer-ramah (1 Occurrence)
Baalath-beer-ramah. Ba'alath-beer, Baalath-beer-ramah. Baalbec .
Multi-Version Concordance Baalath-beer-ramah (1 Occurrence). ...
/b/baalath-beer-ramah.htm - 6k

Ba'alath (2 Occurrences)
Ba'alath. Baalath, Ba'alath. Baalathbeer . Multi-Version Concordance Ba'alath
(2 Occurrences). Joshua 19:44 Eltekeh, Gibbethon, Baalath, (See RSV). ...
/b/ba'alath.htm - 6k

Gibbethon (5 Occurrences)
... gib'-e-thon (gibbethon): A city in the territory of Dan in the plain named with
Eltekeh and Baalath (Joshua 19:44), and assigned to the Kohathite Levites ...
/g/gibbethon.htm - 9k

Baalathbeer (1 Occurrence)
... Baalah of the well, (Joshua 19:8, probably the same as Baal, mentioned in 1 Chronicles
4:33, a city of Simeon. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. BAALATH-BEER. ...
/b/baalathbeer.htm - 7k

Ba'alath-beer (1 Occurrence)
... Baalath-beer, Ba'alath-beer. Baalath-beer-ramah . ... Joshua 19:8 and all the villages
that were around these cities to Baalath Beer, Ramah of the South. ...
/b/ba'alath-beer.htm - 6k

Baal (94 Occurrences)
... We find the same usage in Romans 11:4. The feminine counterpart of Baal was Baalah
or Baalath which is found in a good many of the local names (see Baethgen ...
/b/baal.htm - 53k

Ramah (38 Occurrences)
... allotted to Simeon. It stands here in apposition to Baalath-beer, and
is probably a second name for the same place. It seems to ...
/r/ramah.htm - 26k

Resources
Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Baalath (5 Occurrences)

Joshua 19:8
and all the villages that were around these cities to Baalath Beer, Ramah of the South. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Joshua 19:44
Eltekeh, Gibbethon, Baalath,
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

1 Kings 9:18
and Baalath, and Tamar in the wilderness, in the land,
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

1 Chronicles 4:33
And all the small places round these towns, as far as Baalath-beer, the high place of the South. These were their living-places, and they have lists of their generations.
(BBE NIV)

2 Chronicles 8:6
and Baalath, and all the storage cities that Solomon had, and all the cities for his chariots, and the cities for his horsemen, and all that Solomon desired to build for his pleasure in Jerusalem, and in Lebanon, and in all the land of his dominion.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Subtopics

Baalath

Baalath: A City of the Tribe of Dan

Related Terms

Ba'alath-beer (1 Occurrence)

Baalath-beer (2 Occurrences)

Baalath (5 Occurrences)

Baalathbeer (1 Occurrence)

Witchcraft (8 Occurrences)

Baalath-beer-ramah (1 Occurrence)

Witch (2 Occurrences)

Baalam
Top of Page
Top of Page