Parah
Parah is an ancient city mentioned in the Old Testament, located in the region of Judea in modern-day Israel. Known today as Khirbet Ein Fara. It appears across 1 verse in Scripture.
Biblical History
Parah is a small town mentioned only once in Scripture, in Joshua 18:23, where it appears in the list of cities allotted to the tribe of Benjamin during the distribution of the Promised Land under Joshua. The town is listed alongside Avvim and Ophrah as part of Benjamin's territorial inheritance in the central hill country. While Parah receives no further narrative attention in the biblical text, its allocation to Benjamin places it within a tribally and geographically significant corridor. The territory of Benjamin, though the smallest tribal allotment, occupied strategically vital terrain between Judah and Ephraim, controlling key routes through the central highlands. Parah's location near the wilderness descent toward the Jordan Valley placed it on the frontier of settled Israelite territory. The town represents the many small agricultural communities that dotted the Benjaminite hill country, forming the social and economic fabric of tribal Israel during the settlement period. Its inclusion in the detailed land allotment reflects the care taken to distribute the Promised Land among all the families of Israel.
Archaeological & Historical Notes
Parah is identified with Khirbet Ein Fara (also written Ain Farah or Ein Perat), located approximately seven kilometers northeast of Jerusalem in the Judean wilderness. The site sits near the head of Wadi Fara (Nahal Perat), which descends eastward toward the Jordan Valley. The identification is based on the preservation of the ancient name in the wadi and the correspondence with Benjamin's allotment boundaries. The site features perennial springs that have supported habitation since antiquity. Surface surveys have documented pottery from the Iron Age and later periods. The surrounding area includes remains of Byzantine monasteries, particularly the Monastery of St. Chariton. Today the area is part of the Ein Prat Nature Reserve, popular for its spring-fed pools and hiking trails.
Verse Appearances (1)
Josh
Sources: ISBE Encyclopedia · OpenBible Geocoding (CC BY) · Pleiades Gazetteer View all →