Zemaraim
A town of Benjamin's allotment (Jos 18:22); the name appears now in Khirbet el Szomra (See tzen), four miles N. of Jericho, or es Sumrah (Robinson). Also a MOUNT on which the prophet Abijah stood in addressing Jeroboam (2Ch 13:4); in the hilly part of Ephraim, extending into Benjamin's territory. Both town and mount are memorials of the former presence of the Zemarites.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia on Zemaraim
Zemaraim zem-a-ra'-im (cemdrayim; Codex Vaticanus Sara; Codex Alexandrinus Semrim): A city in the territory of Benjamin. It is named between Betharabah and Bethel (Jos 18:22), and is probably to be sought East of the latter city. It is usual to identify it with es-Samra, a ruin about 4 miles North of Jericho. Mt. Zemaraim probably derived its name from the city, and must be sought in the neighborhood. On this height, which is said to be in Mt. Ephraim, Abijah, king of Judah, stood when making his appeal to the men of Israel under Jeroboam (2Ch 13:4). If the identification with es-Samra is correct, this hill must be in the uplands to the West, es-Samra being on the floor of the valley. Dillmann (Joshua, at the place) thinks Zemaraim cannot be so far East of Bethel, but may be found somewhere to the South of that town. ⇒See a list of verses on ZEMARAIM in the Bible. W. Ewing ⇒See also the McClintock and Strong Biblical Cyclopedia.
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible on Zemaraim
A city of Benjamin, appar- ently in the vicinity of Bethel, Jos 18"* (B i^apd, A Zftiplfi, Luc. ~a/iaptlfi). It prob. gave its name to Mt. Zcmaraim ('s in, t6 6pot Zo/jLopuf), in the hilloouLUj of Kphraim, 2 Ch 13', from which the Chronicler makes Abijah harangue Jeroboam and his army. It is generallj' identified with es-Sumra to the north of Jericho (PEF Mem. iii. 174, 212 f.; Bulil, GAP ISO, et al.); but Dillm. [Jos. ad lor.) doubts the correctness of tliis, holding that the place (see Berth, on 2 Ch 13') ouglit to be .sought to the south of Bethel, and not far to the east where es-Sumra lies.
Smith's Bible Dictionary on Zemaraim
(double fleece of wool), a town in the allotment of Benjamin, (Joshua 18:22) perhaps identical with Mount Zemaraim, mentioned in (2 Chronicles 13:4) only, which was “in Mount Ephraim,” that is to say, within the general district of the highlands of that great tribe. (2 Chronicles 13:4)
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