בֵּית הַמַּרְכָּבוֹת
Beth-ham-Markaboth or Beth-Markaboth, a place in Palestine
Definition
Beth-ham-Markaboth is a proper noun referring to a town or settlement in the territory of the tribe of Simeon, located in the southern part of ancient Palestine. The name literally means 'house of the chariots' or 'place of the chariots,' suggesting it may have been a site associated with chariot construction, maintenance, or storage. It is listed among the cities allotted to Simeon within the inheritance of Judah (Joshua 19:5) and later appears in a list of Simeonite settlements during the reign of King David (1 Chronicles 4:31).
Biblical Usage
This place-name is used exclusively in two Old Testament lists detailing the inheritance and settlements of the tribe of Simeon. It appears in the geographical allotment described in Joshua 19:5 and is repeated in the chronicler's list of Simeonite towns in 1 Chronicles 4:31. Its usage is purely geographical and administrative, with no narrative context provided.
Etymology
The name is a compound Hebrew phrase: בֵּית (bayith, H1004) meaning 'house' or 'place of,' and הַמַּרְכָּבוֹת (ham-markavot), the definite plural form of מֶרְכָּבָה (merkavah, H4818), meaning 'chariot.' Thus, the full name translates to 'the house of the chariots.' The shortened form, Beth-Markaboth, omits the definite article 'ha-' (the).
Semantic Range
The name provides a glimpse into the material culture and military infrastructure of ancient Israel. Chariots were expensive, state-of-the-art military assets, often associated with royal power and warfare (e.g., Exodus 14:7, 1 Kings 10:26). A place named 'house of the chariots' likely indicates a strategic location for the storage, repair, or garrisoning of these vehicles, possibly under royal or tribal authority. This contrasts with a modern understanding of a simple village, pointing to a site with specific logistical or military significance.
No direct synonyms as a proper place-name. Related concept: מֶרְכָּבָה (merkavah, H4818) — the singular noun for 'chariot,' the core component of the place-name.
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.
Full methodology & sources →