Adamah
Adamah is an ancient city mentioned in the Old Testament, located in the region of Galilee in modern-day Israel. Known today as Qarn Hattin. It appears across 1 verse in Scripture.
Biblical History
Adamah appears in the Old Testament as a fortified city within the tribal territory of Naphtali, listed among the towns allocated to that tribe during the division of the land under Joshua. Joshua 19:36 places it in the list of Naphtali's inheritance alongside Hazor, Ramah, and Kedesh, suggesting it was a settlement of some regional importance in the lower Galilee hill country. The name Adamah, meaning "red earth" or "ground," reflects the fertile reddish soil characteristic of the Galilee region. As part of Naphtali's allotment, Adamah lay in one of the most strategically and agriculturally significant tribal portions, bordered to the west by Asher and to the east by the Sea of Galilee and the Jordan. While Adamah itself receives only this single mention, its inclusion in the tribal boundary list underscores its function as a recognized landmark in the administrative geography of early Israel. The Galilee territories of Naphtali would later bear witness to the ministry of Jesus (Matthew 4:15), fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy that the land of Naphtali would see a great light.
Archaeological & Historical Notes
Adamah is tentatively identified with Qarn Hattin, a prominent double-peaked volcanic hill in Lower Galilee best known as the site of the pivotal 1187 CE Battle of Hattin. The identification remains uncertain, with some scholars proposing alternatives such as Khirbet Daminiyeh. Surface surveys in the Galilee region have revealed Bronze and Iron Age ceramic evidence consistent with the settlement periods of the biblical narrative. The site's elevated position would have made it a defensible location and natural landmark within Naphtali's territory. No systematic excavations targeting the biblical-period layers at Qarn Hattin have been published to date.
Verse Appearances (1)
Josh
Sources: ISBE Encyclopedia · OpenBible Geocoding (CC BY) · Pleiades Gazetteer View all →