אֲדוֹרַיִם
Adorajim, a place in Palestine
Definition
Adorajim (also spelled Adoraim) is a proper noun referring to a fortified city in the ancient kingdom of Judah, located in the hill country southwest of Jerusalem. The name means 'double mound' or 'two hills,' likely describing its geographical setting. It is mentioned only once in the Bible in 2 Chronicles 11:9, where King Rehoboam fortifies it as part of his defensive network for Judah after the northern tribes seceded. This single reference places it as a significant military and administrative center during the divided monarchy period.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in 2 Chronicles 11:9. In this context, it is listed among fifteen cities that King Rehoboam of Judah fortified for defense against the northern kingdom of Israel. Its usage is strictly as a geographical place name, with no other occurrences or varied meanings in the biblical text.
Etymology
The name אֲדוֹרַיִם (ʼĂdôwrayim) is derived from the Hebrew root אָדַר (ʼādar, H142), meaning 'to be majestic' or 'to be eminent.' The form is a dual noun (ending in -ayim), which often indicates a pair or a double feature. Thus, the name likely means 'double mound' or 'two prominences,' referring to the city's physical topography of two hills or elevated areas.
Semantic Range
In its original cultural setting, Adorajim was a strategic fortified town in Judah, reflecting the political and military tensions after the kingdom split following Solomon's death. Fortifying such cities (2 Chronicles 11:5-12) was a common practice to secure borders and control key regions. Its location in the Shephelah (lowland hills) made it important for defense and regional administration, though its exact site is uncertain today.
No direct synonyms as a proper place name, but related fortified cities from the same passage include: לָכִישׁ (Lākîš, H3923) — another major fortified city in Judah; and גָּת (Gath, H1661) — a Philistine city often referenced in military contexts.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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