Almon
Almon is an ancient city mentioned in the Old Testament, located in the region of Judea in modern-day Israel. Known today as Khirbet Almit. It appears across 1 verse in Scripture.
Biblical History
Almon is listed in Joshua 21:18 among the cities in the territory of Benjamin allotted to the sons of Aaron, placing it within the network of Levitical cities established to ensure priestly presence throughout the land. The city appears to be identical with Alemeth (1 Chronicles 6:60), representing a variant spelling of the same settlement. Its Benjaminite location, northeast of Jerusalem, placed it close to other priestly and Levitical towns including Anathoth, the birthplace of the prophet Jeremiah. The designation of Almon as a Levitical city meant that the surrounding population had access to priests who could teach the Law, adjudicate legal matters, and oversee the religious life of the community. This system of dispersed priestly presence throughout the tribal territories reflects the Torah's vision of a holy nation in which sacred instruction permeated the entire social fabric, not merely the central sanctuary. Almon's obscurity in the narrative texts highlights how much of ancient Israel's religious life occurred in these smaller, locally embedded centers.
Archaeological & Historical Notes
Like Alemeth, Almon is most commonly identified with Khirbet Almit in the Benjaminite hills northeast of Jerusalem. The site is located in the general vicinity of Anathoth, modern Ras el Kharrubeh or the village of Anata. Khirbet Almit has not been the subject of major excavation, but surface pottery collections suggest Iron Age occupation compatible with its biblical identification. The region as a whole has been studied in connection with the archaeology of the Benjaminite plateau, which shows dense settlement during the Iron Age II period. The proximity of Almon/Alemeth to Anathoth and the cluster of Levitical towns in this area supports a general picture of an administratively organized priestly presence in the northern suburbs of Jerusalem.
Verse Appearances (1)
Josh
Sources: ISBE Encyclopedia · OpenBible Geocoding (CC BY) · Pleiades Gazetteer View all →