Anathoth
Anathoth is an ancient city mentioned in the Old Testament, located in the region of Judea in modern-day Israel. Known today as Ras el Kharruba. It appears across 18 verses in Scripture.
Biblical History
Anathoth was a Levitical city in the territory of Benjamin (Joshua 21:18; 1 Chronicles 6:60), located approximately five kilometers north-northeast of Jerusalem. It is most celebrated as the hometown of the prophet Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1:1; 11:21–23), who was born into a priestly family there. The city also appears in connection with Abiathar the priest, who was banished to Anathoth by Solomon after supporting the failed coup of Adonijah (1 Kings 2:26). Abiathar's exile fulfilled the prophecy against the house of Eli (1 Samuel 2:31–33). Jeremiah's connection with Anathoth runs deep: he endured persecution from his own townspeople there (Jeremiah 11:21), yet in a remarkable act of faith during the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem, he redeemed a field in Anathoth as a prophetic sign of future restoration (Jeremiah 32:6–15). The town is also mentioned in Isaiah 10:30 in the context of the Assyrian advance on Jerusalem, and Ezra 2:23 records that 128 men of Anathoth returned from Babylonian exile, confirming the community's continuity.
Archaeological & Historical Notes
Anathoth is identified with Ras el-Kharruba, a site adjacent to the modern Palestinian village of Anata (which preserves the ancient name) and the Israeli neighborhood of Anatot, northeast of Jerusalem. An alternate identification with Tell Ras el-Kharruba nearby is also proposed. Surface surveys have revealed Iron Age II pottery consistent with occupation during the divided monarchy period and the time of Jeremiah. The site has not been systematically excavated, limiting detailed knowledge of its material culture. The preservation of the ancient name in the modern Arabic Anata is a strong confirmation of the identification. The site lies in the Benjaminite hill country, in terrain still visible from Jerusalem's northern heights.
Verse Appearances (18)
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]
- Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]