Hammath
Hammath is an ancient city mentioned in the Old Testament, located in the region of Galilee in modern-day Israel. Known today as Hamat Tiberias. It appears across 1 verse in Scripture.
Biblical History
Hammath appears in the tribal inheritance records of Joshua as a city allotted to Naphtali, one of the northern tribes of Israel. This same location along the western Sea of Galilee shore is likely referenced in 1 Chronicles 2:55 under a related name in the genealogies, and some scholars identify it with Hammon in Joshua 19:28, suggesting a cluster of related place names for the same general area. The hot spring city of Hammath formed part of a string of fortified settlements in lower Galilee that Naphtali received as its inheritance (Joshua 19:35-38). Its strategic position along the shores of the Sea of Galilee, controlling access to fresh water, fishing resources, and the major north-south trade route through the Jordan Valley, made it a valuable possession. The long continuity of settlement at this location reflects the enduring importance of the hot springs and the fertile lakeside environment. In later Jewish tradition, the springs of Hammath were renowned for their healing properties, drawing visitors from across the region throughout the Second Temple and rabbinic periods.
Archaeological & Historical Notes
The archaeological site of Hamat Tiberias, identified with Hammath, has been excavated in multiple seasons revealing an exceptionally rich sequence of occupation. The site's fame rests primarily on the discovery of three superimposed ancient synagogues, the earliest dating to the 3rd century AD and featuring a remarkable mosaic pavement with Helios at the center of the zodiac, flanked by the four seasons and bordered by a biblical menorah. Earlier strata beneath these synagogues indicate Iron Age occupation consistent with the biblical period. The natural hot springs continue to flow and have been developed into a modern spa facility adjacent to the archaeological park.
Verse Appearances (1)
Josh
References
- Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
- OpenBible.info (n.d.) Bible Geocoding. Available at: https://www.openbible.info/geo/. [CC BY 4.0]
- Bagnall, R. et al. (eds.) (n.d.) Pleiades: A Gazetteer of Past Places. Available at: https://pleiades.stoa.org. [CC BY 3.0]
- Wikidata contributors (n.d.) Wikidata. Available at: https://www.wikidata.org. [CC0]
- Lawrence, D. et al. (2025) Villages to Empires: a settlement dataset for the Southern Levant. doi:10.5281/zenodo.15111732. [CC BY 4.0]
- Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]