עֲדִיתַיִם

Adithajim, a place in Palestine

Definition

עֲדִיתַיִם (Adithaim) is a proper noun referring to a town located in the tribal territory of Judah. It is listed among the cities in the Shephelah, the lowland region of Judah, as recorded in Joshua 15:36. The name itself is a dual form, which may suggest the town consisted of two parts or was situated between two notable features. As a geographical location, its primary significance is its inclusion in the biblical description of the land allotment given to the tribe of Judah following the conquest of Canaan.

Biblical Usage

This word appears only once in the Old Testament, in Joshua 15:36, within a list of cities allotted to the tribe of Judah. Its usage is purely geographical, serving to specify one of the towns in the Shephelah district. There are no other contextual uses or patterns, as it is a single-occurrence proper noun.

Etymology

The name עֲדִיתַיִם (Adithaim) is derived from the Hebrew root עַד (ʿad, H5706), meaning 'ornament' or 'prey.' It is constructed as the dual form of a feminine noun, hence the translation 'double ornament' or 'double prey.' This dual form likely describes the town's physical layout or its historical circumstances.

Semantic Range

As a town in Judah's allotment, Adithaim was part of the fulfillment of God's promise to give the land of Canaan to the Israelites. Its listing among other cities (Joshua 15:36) underscores the concrete, geographical reality of that inheritance. The dual form of its name may reflect local topography or a historical event now lost to us, typical of how place names often encapsulated community identity or experience in the ancient Near East.

Word Details

Scripture References