Bileam
Bileam 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 1 verse in Scripture.
Biblical History
Bileam appears once in the Old Testament, listed among the Levitical towns assigned from the territory of the half-tribe of Manasseh west of the Jordan (1 Chronicles 6:70). It is generally regarded as the same location as Ibleam, a Canaanite city mentioned elsewhere in the historical books (Joshua 17:11; Judges 1:27; 2 Kings 9:27). In the tribal allotments, Ibleam was assigned to Manasseh, though the tribe failed to drive out the Canaanite inhabitants initially, a recurring theme of incomplete conquest in Judges that signaled future spiritual compromise. Ibleam later appears in the account of Jehu's violent purge of the Omride dynasty: the wounded king Ahaziah of Judah fled toward Ibleam after being struck by Jehu's arrow near Jezreel (2 Kings 9:27). He escaped temporarily but died at Megiddo. The city thus witnessed a pivotal moment in the fulfillment of prophetic judgment against the house of Ahab. Its Levitical designation as Bileam in Chronicles highlights its ongoing administrative role within the Israelite tribal and religious system.
Archaeological & Historical Notes
Bileam is most confidently identified with Khirbet Belameh, located near the modern village of Beilemin the Dothan Valley, south of Jenin in the northern West Bank. The site occupies a strategically significant position along the pass leading from the Jezreel Valley into the hill country. Archaeological surveys and limited excavations have uncovered occupation layers spanning the Bronze and Iron Ages, consistent with the city's prominence during the Canaanite and Israelite periods. The site's position astride an important trade and military route explains its recurring mention in biblical narratives involving territorial control and military conflict. A rock-cut tomb complex in the area further attests to the site's ancient importance.
Verse Appearances (1)
1Chr
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]