Ataroth
The Name and Its Meaning
Ataroth comes from the Hebrew word meaning "crowns" or "wreaths," possibly reflecting the circular shape of the settlements or their hilltop locations. The name was common enough in ancient Israel that several different places bore it, requiring careful attention to context when reading biblical references. The name appears primarily in the books of Numbers and Joshua, which deal with the allocation of tribal territories.
Ataroth East of the Jordan
The most prominent Ataroth was a city located east of the Jordan River, mentioned in Numbers 32:3 and 32:34. When the tribes of Reuben and Gad saw that the land east of the Jordan was suitable for their large herds, they requested permission to settle there rather than crossing into Canaan proper. Ataroth is listed among the cities they identified as desirable territory.
Although the area was initially associated with Reuben's allotment, Numbers 32:34 records that the children of Gad built or fortified Ataroth. This suggests the city sat near the boundary between these two tribal territories. The site is commonly identified with Khirbet Attarus, located about eight miles northeast of Dhiban (ancient Dibon) on the Moabite plateau. The nearby Jebel Attarus preserves the ancient name in its Arabic form.
Ataroth on the Ephraim-Benjamin Border
A second Ataroth appears in Joshua 16:2 as a place on the boundary between the tribes of Ephraim and Benjamin, toward the west. This location seems to be the same as Ataroth-addar mentioned in Joshua 16:5 and Joshua 18:13. Scholars have proposed identifying it with the modern site of ed-Dariyeh, south of lower Beth-horon and about twelve miles west of Jerusalem. This Ataroth served as an important boundary marker in the division of the Promised Land among the tribes.
Ataroth on Ephraim's Eastern Frontier
A third Ataroth is mentioned in Joshua 16:7 on the eastern border of Ephraim's territory. This town has proven difficult to identify with certainty. Various scholars have suggested locations in the Jordan Valley, but no definitive identification has been established. Its mention in the boundary description indicates it was a recognized landmark in the tribal territory system.
Significance in Israel's Story
The various towns named Ataroth reflect the careful attention given to territorial boundaries in ancient Israel. The allocation of land was not merely a political arrangement but a fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham that his descendants would inherit the land (Genesis 12:7). Each named boundary point, including the several places called Ataroth, testified to the reality of that fulfilled promise.
The eastern Ataroth is particularly significant because it figured in the negotiation between Moses and the tribes of Reuben and Gad (Numbers 32). Their request to settle east of the Jordan raised concerns about tribal unity, but Moses agreed on the condition that their warriors would help the other tribes conquer Canaan, a commitment that was honored (Joshua 22:1-4).
Biblical Context
Ataroth appears in Numbers 32:3 and 32:34 in the context of the trans-Jordan settlement by Gad and Reuben, and in Joshua 16:2, 16:5, 16:7, and 18:13 as boundary markers for the tribal territories of Ephraim and Benjamin. These references occur within the broader narrative of Israel's conquest and division of the Promised Land.
Theological Significance
The towns named Ataroth represent the concrete fulfillment of God's land promises to Israel. The careful recording of boundaries and settlements demonstrates that God's covenant promises were not abstract but found real, geographical expression. The trans-Jordan Ataroth also illustrates the tension between individual tribal interests and corporate covenant responsibility.
Historical Background
The eastern Ataroth is identified with Khirbet Attarus on the Moabite plateau, near the modern Jebel Attarus. The Mesha Stele (Moabite Stone, c. 840 BC) mentions Ataroth as a city that the men of Gad had long inhabited, providing extra-biblical confirmation of the biblical account. The western Ataroth near Beth-horon sat along important routes connecting the coastal plain with the central hill country.