Adithaim
Adithaim is an ancient city mentioned in the Old Testament, located in the region of Samaria in modern-day Israel. Known today as Al Haditha. It appears across 1 verse in Scripture.
Biblical History
Adithaim is listed in Joshua 15:36 among the cities of the Shephelah — the lowland foothills of Judah — within the district that includes Sharaim and Gederah. The name, possibly meaning "double ornaments" or "two passages," is attested only in this single verse, making it one of the more obscure settlements in Judah's administrative geography. The Shephelah in which Adithaim lay was one of ancient Israel's most contested regions, serving as the buffer zone between the coastal plain controlled by the Philistines and the Judean highlands. Major biblical events unfolded in this general area: the confrontation between David and Goliath took place at the Valley of Elah nearby; Samson's exploits were centered in the Shephelah; and the military campaigns of the Assyrian and later Babylonian invasions swept through this corridor. While Adithaim itself plays no named role in these events, its inclusion in the Judahite city list reflects a functioning administrative system in which even small settlements contributed to the economic and defensive infrastructure of the kingdom.
Archaeological & Historical Notes
Adithaim is tentatively identified with Al Haditha (also spelled Khirbet Atiya or Haditha), located in the Judean Shephelah west of Jerusalem. The identification is uncertain, with some scholars proposing alternative sites in the same general area. The Shephelah has been intensively surveyed and selectively excavated in recent decades, with major work at Lachish, Tell Beit Mirsim, and Azekah providing important context for settlement patterns in the region. Iron Age I and II occupation is well documented throughout the Shephelah lowlands. Without systematic excavation specifically at the proposed Adithaim site, firm conclusions about its ancient character cannot be drawn.
Verse Appearances (1)
Josh
Sources: ISBE Encyclopedia · OpenBible Geocoding (CC BY) · Pleiades Gazetteer View all →