רֹגְלִים
Rogelim, a place East of the Jordan
Definition
Rogelim is a proper noun referring to a specific location east of the Jordan River, mentioned only in the context of King David's life. It is identified as the hometown of Barzillai the Gileadite, a wealthy and loyal supporter of David during Absalom's rebellion (2 Samuel 17:27). The name itself, meaning 'fullers' or 'treaders,' likely describes a place associated with the cloth-washing or fulling trade, suggesting a settlement with a water source suitable for such work. Its sole biblical appearance is in narratives detailing the provision of supplies to David's weary forces and Barzillai's subsequent loyalty (2 Samuel 19:31).
Biblical Usage
The word 'Rogelim' is used exclusively as a proper place name in two consecutive chapters of 2 Samuel. It appears in the context of listing the supporters who brought provisions to David at Mahanaim during his flight from Absalom (2 Samuel 17:27). Its second occurrence is when Barzillai of Rogelim accompanies David partway back to Jerusalem after the rebellion is quelled (2 Samuel 19:31). The usage is purely geographical, identifying the origin of a key loyalist.
Etymology
The name Rogelim (רֹגְלִים) is the masculine plural form of the active participle of the root רָגַל (ragal, H7270), meaning 'to go on foot, spy, tread.' As a participle, it means 'treaders' or 'those who tramp.' In the context of a place name, it is understood as 'Fullers,' referring to those who trampled or trod on cloth in the process of washing and thickening it (fulling). The name thus describes the settlement's primary trade or characteristic.
Semantic Range
While Rogelim itself is a minor geographical detail, its theological significance emerges through its resident, Barzillai. His loyalty and generous provision to David in a time of desperate need (2 Samuel 17:27-29) model covenant faithfulness, hospitality, and support for God's anointed king during a divinely orchestrated period of testing and restoration. Understanding the word enriches the narrative by grounding Barzillai's character in a specific, tangible community, highlighting how God provides support through faithful individuals in obscure places.
As a place name meaning 'Fullers,' Rogelim was almost certainly a settlement located near a water source sufficient for the cloth-processing industry. Fulling involved cleansing and thickening woolen cloth by treading or beating it in water, often using fuller's earth (a type of clay). This indicates Rogelim was not just a random village but a center of a specific, vital trade in the ancient economy. Its location in Gilead, east of the Jordan, places it in a fertile, often contested region known for its pastoral wealth and loyalty to David.
There are no direct synonyms for this proper place name. Related terms for trades or locations might include: בּוֹר כֶּרֶם (bor kerem, H953, H3754) — 'pit of a vineyard,' another place name; or כְּבָר (kᵉbâr, H3529) — a canal, as another geographical feature associated with water.
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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