Ibleam
Ibleam is an ancient city mentioned in the Old Testament, located in the region of Galilee in modern-day Israel. Known today as Khirbet Belameh. It appears across 4 verses in Scripture.
Biblical History
Ibleam was a Canaanite city situated in the territory allotted to the tribe of Manasseh, though it lay within the borders of Issachar (Joshua 17:11). Significantly, Manasseh was unable to drive out the inhabitants of Ibleam, and the Canaanites persisted in dwelling there even after Israel grew strong enough to subject them to forced labor (Judges 1:27). The city occupied a strategic position controlling the ascent from the Jezreel Valley into the hill country of Samaria. Its most dramatic biblical moment occurs during Jehu's revolution against the house of Ahab. When Jehu pursued King Ahaziah of Judah, his men wounded Ahaziah at the ascent of Gur near Ibleam, and the king fled to Megiddo where he died (2 Kings 9:27). Ibleam may also be identified with the Levitical city Bileam mentioned in 1 Chronicles 6:70, assigned to the Kohathite Levites. The city's story illustrates the incomplete nature of the Israelite conquest and the ongoing challenges of Canaanite presence in strategic locations.
Archaeological & Historical Notes
Ibleam is confidently identified with Khirbet Belameh, situated at the southern entrance to the Jezreel Valley near modern Jenin. The site controls the important pass between the Dothan Valley and the Jezreel plain, confirming its strategic significance described in Scripture. Egyptian records, including the topographical lists of Thutmose III at Karnak, mention Ibleam among conquered Canaanite cities, corroborating its importance in the Late Bronze Age. Surface surveys have revealed pottery from the Late Bronze and Iron Ages. A rock-cut water tunnel, similar to those found at other Canaanite cities like Megiddo and Gezer, has been discovered at the site, indicating sophisticated urban infrastructure. The tell has not been systematically excavated but remains a significant landmark in the northern West Bank.
Verse Appearances (4)
Sources: ISBE Encyclopedia · OpenBible Geocoding (CC BY) · Pleiades Gazetteer View all →