Adummim
Adummim is a location mentioned in the Old Testament, located in the region of Judea in modern-day Israel. It appears across 2 verses in Scripture.
Biblical History
Adummim is mentioned in Joshua 15:7 and 18:17 as a geographic feature marking the boundary between the tribal territories of Judah and Benjamin. The name, meaning "the red things" or "bloody pass," likely refers either to the reddish limestone cliffs of the ascent or, possibly, to the danger of brigandry in the area. The ascent of Adummim corresponds to the road descending from Jerusalem toward Jericho through the Judean wilderness — one of the most dramatic and treacherous routes in the biblical landscape. This is almost certainly the road setting for Jesus' Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30–37), in which a traveler is robbed, beaten, and left for dead between Jerusalem and Jericho, making the geographic context of Adummim theologically charged. In the Byzantine period, a monastery and inn called the "Inn of the Good Samaritan" (Malhah) was established at the traditional location, reflecting ancient Christian identification of this pass with the parable. The route through Adummim thus became embedded in the devotional geography of Christian pilgrimage for centuries.
Archaeological & Historical Notes
Adummim is confidently identified with the Talat ed-Damm pass, located on the Jerusalem-to-Jericho road approximately midway between the two cities, at modern Maaleh Adummim. The ascent through this area is characterized by stark red-tinged limestone cliffs that explain the place name. The "Inn of the Good Samaritan" (Khan el-Ahmar), identified with the site since Byzantine times, was excavated by Israeli archaeologists and found to contain a Byzantine monastery and Roman-period remains. Further excavations have uncovered mosaic floors from the Byzantine inn and church complex. The Judean Desert Survey has documented numerous ancient remains along this route, confirming its importance as a major thoroughfare from the earliest periods through the Ottoman era.
Verse Appearances (2)
Sources: ISBE Encyclopedia · OpenBible Geocoding (CC BY) · Pleiades Gazetteer View all →