Kiriath-jearim
Kiriath-jearim is an ancient city mentioned in the Old Testament, located in the region of Judea in modern-day Israel. Known today as Deir el Azar. It appears across 19 verses in Scripture.
Biblical History
Kiriath-jearim, meaning "city of forests," holds a distinguished place in Israel's sacred history, appearing in nineteen verses across multiple books. Initially a Gibeonite city on the border between Judah and Benjamin (Joshua 9:17; 15:9, 60; 18:14-15), it became most famous as the resting place of the Ark of the Covenant. After the Philistines returned the captured Ark following plagues upon their cities, it was brought to Kiriath-jearim and placed in the house of Abinadab on the hill, where Eleazar was consecrated to guard it (1 Samuel 7:1-2). The Ark remained there for twenty years until David brought it to Jerusalem in a great procession (2 Chronicles 1:4; 1 Chronicles 13:5-6). The prophet Jeremiah later invoked the city's alternate name, Kirjath (Jeremiah 26:20), when recounting the prophet Uriah's origins. After the Babylonian exile, men of Kiriath-jearim were among those who returned to rebuild the community (Ezra 2:25; Nehemiah 7:29). The city's role as guardian of the Ark makes it a significant waypoint in the journey of God's presence among His people.
Archaeological & Historical Notes
Kiriath-jearim is identified with the modern site of Deir el-Azar (also called Tell el-Azar or Abu Ghosh), located approximately 13 kilometers west of Jerusalem along the road to Tel Aviv. Major excavations led by Israel Finkelstein and Christophe Nicolle, beginning in 2017, revealed a massive rectangular platform structure dating to the Iron Age IIA (10th-9th centuries BCE), which may be connected to the site's cultic significance as described in the biblical narrative. The site sits on a prominent hill overlooking surrounding valleys, consistent with the biblical description. A church and monastery built in the Crusader era and later rebuilt by the French occupy part of the summit. The excavations also uncovered remains from the Bronze Age, confirming long-term occupation.
Verse Appearances (19)
Sources: ISBE Encyclopedia · OpenBible Geocoding (CC BY) · Pleiades Gazetteer View all →