Bahurim (Hastings' Dictionary)
The place where Michal is parted from her husband Phaltiel, as she is being taken back to David at Hebron (2 S 3>«). The village also where Shimei lived ; he came out thence to curse David when fleeing from Jerus. towards Jordan (2 S 16°). In this village Jonathan and Ahiraaaz took refuge when carrying news to David from Jerus.; they concealed themselves in the well of a house, and so managed to elude the servants of Absalom, who had been sent to capture them (2 S 17'*).
According to the account of David's flight from Jerus. (ch. 15 ff.), it seems that he did not take the southern and more usual road to Jericho, which passes through Bethany, but adopted the shorter and more difhcult route, which runs in a N.E. direction over the Mt. of Olives. The Targ. preserves a tradition which identifies B. with Almon (Jos 21'*), the modern Almlt, about 4 miles N.E. of Jerus. and 1 mile beyond Anathoth (Anata), near the S. boundary of Benjamin.
This \-iew, which is accepted by most moderns, agrees with the local details supplied by the narrative of David's flight. After leaving the summit of the Mt. of Olives (15'" 16'), David made his way down the E. slopes of the range towards Jordan. A ' rib ' or ridge of hill apparently ran parallel to this N. route, from which it was separated by a ravine or pilly (16' ' let me go over now'), so that Shimei, running along the top of the hill, could cast stones and dirt at the king with impunity.
Barhiunite (2 S 23" •cn-i;) is clearly a mistake for Baharumite =a native of Bahurim, which is more correctly given by the Chronicler (1 Ch 11^ 'pnnjn ; point 'PirjJD the Eahurimmite). ' J. F. Stenning. BAITERUS (BaiTi;poD$, AV Meteru8), 1 Es 5". — The sons of B. returned with Zerub., to the number of 3005. It probably represents a Heb. place-name beginning with Beth- : but there is no corresponding name in the lists of Ezr 2 and Neh 7. H. St. J. Thackeray.
This topic also has an entry in the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Both articles offer independent scholarly perspectives.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia on Bahurim
Bahurim ba-hu'-rim bachurim; Baoureim usually, but there are variants): A place in the territory of Benjamin which lay on an old road from Jerusalem to Jericho followed by David in his flight from Absalom (2Sa 15:32 through 2Sa 16:5 ff). It ran over the Mount of Olives and down the slopes to the East. The Talmud identifies it with Ale, math, the modern Almit, about a mile beyond `Anata, going from Jerusalem. If this identification is correct, Wady Farah may be the brook of water (2Sa 17:20). Here Paltiel was parted from his wife Miehal by Abner (2Sa 3:16). It was the home of Shimei, who ran along a ridge of the hill cursing and throwing stones at the fugitive king (2Sa 16:5; 1Ki 2:8). In Bahurim Jonathan and Ahimaaz, the messengers of David, were concealed in a well by a loyal woman (2Sa 17:18 ff). Azmaveth, one of David's heroes, was a native of Bahurim. In 2 Sam 23:31 we should read, as in 1Ch 11:33, Barahumite. ⇒See a list of verses on BAHURIM in the Bible. W. Ewing ⇒See also the McClintock and Strong Biblical Cyclopedia.
Smith's Bible Dictionary on Bahurim
(low ground), a village, (2 Samuel 16:6) apparently on or close to the road leading up from the Jordan valley to Jerusalem, and near the south boundary of Benjamin.
Fausset's Bible Dictionary on Bahurim
("youths".) E. of Jerusalem, the abode, of Shimei, son of Gera (2Sa 16:5; 2Sa 17:18; 1Ki 2:8). When David left the summit of Olivet behind and was descending the eastern slopes to the Jordan valley below, in his flight front Absalom, Shimei came forth from Bahurim and ran along the side ("rib") of the hill, abusing David and flinging stones and dust, in a manner common in the East in the case of fallen greatness. Bahurim was evidently off the main road. Here, in the court of a house, Jonathan and Ahimaaz lay hidden under the well's covering upon which grain was spread. Here Phaltiel parted with his wife Michal, when she was claimed by David (2Sa 3:16). Azmaveth, one of David's valiant men, was a Baharumite (1Ch 11:33), or Barhumite (2Sa 23:31). Ganneau identifies with Fakhoury, a locality between Olivet, Siloam, Bethany, and Abou Dis.
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