Ramoth Gilead
("Heights of Gilead.") A fortress commanding Argob and the Jair towns, occupied by Solomon's commissariat officer (1Ki 4:13). Keenly fought for by the Israelites and their enemies the Syrians under Ahab and Joram (1Ki 22:4; it had been seized by Benhadad I from Omri; Josephus Ant. 8:15, section 3. Ahab fell in attempting to recover it). Joram of Israel allied himself with Ahaziah of Judah (2Ch 22:5-6), gained and kept Ramoth Gilead in spite of Hazael (2Ki 9:14-15; Josephus Ant. 9:6; section 1).
Jehu from it started to seize the kingdom. 2Ki 8:28 or Ramath Mizpeh in Jos 13:26. The spot called by Jacob in his covenant with Laban, of which the pillar and stone heap was pledge, Galeed and Mizpah. (See MIZPAH) A city of refuge in Gad (Deu 4:43; Jos 20:8; Jos 21:38). Now Es Salt, W. of Philadelphia, or else Jela'ad (Gilead) four miles N. of Es Salt, for Ramath Mizpeh is in the N. of Gad (Jos 13:26), which Es Salt is not.
The Arabic of Jos 13:26 has Ramah el Jeresh or Ramah el Jerash (Gerasa).
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia on Ramoth Gilead
Ramoth-gilead ra'-moth-gil'-e-ad (ramoth gil'adh; Codex Vaticanus Rhemmath Galadd; Codex Alexandrinus Rhammoth, and other forms): A great and strong city East of the Jordan in the territory of Gad, which played an important part in the wars of Israel. It is first mentioned in connection with the appointment of the Cities of Refuge (De 4:43; Jos 20:8). It was assigned to the Merarite Levites (Jos 21:38; 1Ch 6:80). In these four passages it is called "Ramoth in Gilead" (ramoth ba-gil'adh). This form is given wrongly by the King James Version in 1Ki 22:3. In all other places the form "Ramoth-gilead" is used.e to the shape of a jaw-bone (Jg 15:9,14,19). It may have been in Wady es-Sarar, not far from Zorah and Timnath; but the available data do not permit of certain identification. ⇒See a list of verses on RAMOTH-GILEAD in the Bible. 1. History: Here Ben-geber was placed in charge of one of Solomon's administrative districts (1Ki 4:13), which included Havvoth-jair and "the region of Argob, which is in Bashan." The city was taken from Omri by the Syrians under Ben-hadad I (Ant., VIII, xv,…
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible on Ramoth Gilead
A prominent city east of the .Ionian belonging to the tribe of Gad, and first brouglit to our notice in the assignment of the Cities of Refuge, Dt 4«, Jos 20". It was also a Levltical city, Jos 21^. In four passiiges, the three just mentioned and 1 Ch 0* [Heb.«'>], all referring to this assignment, tlie form 'Kamoth in (iilead' {Tj):3 nto-i [in Dt 4''^ Jos 20', 1 Ch G,^ niCN-;!) is used, but elsewhere it is simply Kamotligilead ('Sj n-D"!). Another early notice of this place belongs to the time of Solomon, and makes it the hea ». See, also, Kamaii, No. 3. Although it is mentioned as a well-known city, we liave no account, in the Bible or elsewhere, of its origin. The greater its importance the more conspicuous it would naturally be ; and this we find was the case, in the wars lietween the Syrian kings of Dama.scus and the Hebrews. Of "these wars we have the fullest account of those occur- ring between B.C. 9U0 and B.C. 800, particularly during the reigns of Ahab, Aliaziali, Jchoram, and .lehu, kings of Israel. Althoiigli tlio southern kingdom sometimes acted as an allv, the brunt of…
References
- Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
- Easton, M.G. (1893) Easton's Bible Dictionary. 3rd edn. Thomas Nelson. [Public Domain]
- Nave, O.J. (1897) Nave's Topical Bible. Topical Bible Publishing Co.. [Public Domain]
- Hastings, J. (ed.) (1909) A Dictionary of the Bible. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Smith, W. (ed.) (1884) Smith's Bible Dictionary. London: John Murray. [Public Domain]
- Fausset, A.R. (1878) Fausset's Bible Dictionary. [Public Domain]A Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopaedia