רִתְמָה
Rithmah, a place in the Desert
Definition
Rithmah is the name of a wilderness campsite used by the Israelites during their forty years of wandering in the desert after the Exodus from Egypt. It is listed in the itinerary of Numbers 33:18-19 as one of the stops between Hazeroth and Rimmon-perez. The name itself means 'place of broom trees' or 'broom bush,' derived from the Hebrew word for the desert broom plant (Retama raetam). As a proper noun, it refers solely to this specific geographical location mentioned in the wilderness travel narrative.
Biblical Usage
The word Rithmah is used exclusively in the Old Testament within the context of the wilderness journey itinerary recorded in Numbers 33. It appears only twice, in consecutive verses (Numbers 33:18, 33:19), which list the stages of the Israelites' travel. Its usage is purely geographical, serving as a marker in the historical record of the nation's movement from Egypt to the Promised Land.
Etymology
Rithmah (רִתְמָה) is a feminine noun derived from the masculine singular רֶתֶם (retem, H7574), meaning 'broom plant' or 'juniper,' a hardy shrub common in desert regions. The name is a locative form, essentially meaning 'place of the broom bush.' This follows a common Hebrew pattern for place names, where a feature of the local flora or fauna gives the location its identity.
Semantic Range
While Rithmah itself is not the focus of major theological events, its inclusion in the detailed itinerary of Numbers 33 is significant. It underscores the historical reality and specificity of Israel's wilderness wanderings as a period of divine testing, provision, and discipline. Each named station, including Rithmah, contributes to the narrative of God's guidance and the people's journey from slavery to the fulfillment of covenant promise, reminding readers that God is present and leading even in the seemingly mundane stages of life's journey.
In the ancient Near Eastern context, naming a location after a prominent plant like the broom bush was a practical way to identify and remember a specific spot in a vast, featureless desert. The broom plant (Retama raetam) is a hardy, drought-resistant shrub that provides minimal shade and can be used for fuel. Its presence would have been a notable landmark for travelers and a potential, though meager, resource in the wilderness. The name immediately conveyed a visual and environmental characteristic of the site to the original audience.
No direct synonyms as a proper place name. Related conceptually to other wilderness station names like Dophkah (H1850) or Alush (H442).
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 →