Anathoth
a priests’ city belonging to the tribe of Benjamin, with “suburbs.” (Joshua 21:18; 1 Chronicles 6:60) Anathoth lay about three miles from Jerusalem. (Isaiah 10:30) The cultivation of the priests survives in tilled fields of grain, with figs and olives. There are the remains of walls and strong foundations, and the quarries still supply Jerusalem with building stones.
(answers to prayer).
Son of Becher, a son of Benjamin. (1 Chronicles 7:8) One of the “heads of the people” who signed the covenant in the time of Nehemiah. (Nehemiah 10:19) (B.C. 410.)
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia on Anathoth
Anathoth an'-a-thoth (`anathoth; Anathoth): A town which lay between Michmash and Jerusalem (Isa 10:30), in the territory of Benjamin, assigned to the Levites (Jos 21:18). It was the native place of Abiathar (1Ki 2:26), and of the prophet Jer (Jer 1:1; 11:21 ff, etc.). Here lay the field which, under remarkable circumstances, the prophet purchased (Jer 32:7 ff). Two of David's distinguished soldiers, Abiezer (2Sa 23:27) and Jehu (1Ch 12:3), also hailed from Anathoth. It was again occupied by the Benjamites after the return from the Exile (Ne 11:32, etc.). It is identified with `Anata, two and a quarter miles Northeast of Jerusalem, a small village of some fifteen houses with remains of ancient walls. There are quarries in the neighborhood from which stones are still carried to Jerusalem. It commands a spacious outlook over the uplands to the North, and especially to the Southeast, over the Jordan valley toward the Dead Sea and the mountains of Moab. There is nothing to shelter it from the withering power of the winds from the eastern deserts (Jer 4:11; 18:17, etc.). ⇒See a list of ve…
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible on Anathoth
1. A town In Benjamin assigned to the Levites (Jos 21'", 1 Ch 6°"), named from (possibly plural of) 'Anath or 'An&t, a Chaldsean deity worshipped among the Canaanites (Sayce, Jlibbert Lect. pp. 187-189 ; Vogu6, Mel. 41 ff. ), now called 'Andta, It is situated 24 miles north-east of Jerusalem over the shoulder of Scopas. There are still twelve or fifteen houses on the spot, and the remains of what was apparently a handsome church. From its commanding position it has a fine view northward and also eastward over the broken hills of the wilderness, stretching down towards the north end of the Salt Sea, It was the home of Abiathar, 1 K 2-"^; of Abiezer, one of David's thirty captains, 2 S 23" ; of Jehu, one of his mighty men, 1 Ch 12^ and of Jeremiah the prophet, Jer 1'. It was reoccupied after the E.xile (Ezr 2'^, Neh 7", 1 Es 5'*). A quarry at 'Anftta still supplies building stone to Jerusalem. The vision of the dreary wilderness to the east, and the scorching of its dry winds which Jeremiah was familiar with in his native to^vn, have imprinted themselves on his prophecies. To one stand…
Fausset's Bible Dictionary on Anathoth
1. 1Ch 7:8. 2. 1Ch 10:19. 3. A priests' city of Benjamin. ("echoes".) (Jos 21:18; 1Ch 6:60). Abiathar the priest was banished thither by Solomon after his attempt to put Adonijah on the throne (1Ki 2:26). Abiezer's birthplace, one of David's 30 captains (2Sa 23:27); Jehu's also, one of his mighties (1Ch 12:3); Jeremiah's, the priest and prophet, also (Jer 1:1). Among the restored captives from Babylon were 128 men of Anathoth The name is variously given: Anethothite, Anetothite, Antothite. Near the road, about three miles N. from Jerusalem (Isa 10:30). Now Anata, on a broad ridge, amidst fields of grain, figs, and olives. There are remains of walls, and quarries supplying stone to Jerusalem.
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