Zemaraim
Zemaraim is an ancient city mentioned in the Old Testament, located in the region of Samaria in modern-day Israel. Known today as Ras et Tahuneh. It appears across 1 verse in Scripture.
Biblical History
Zemaraim appears in the Old Testament in two distinct contexts. First, in Joshua 18:22, it is listed as one of the cities within the tribal territory of Benjamin, establishing it as a recognized settlement in the Benjaminite heartland north of Jerusalem. Second, and more dramatically, Mount Zemaraim is the location from which King Abijah of Judah delivered a famous speech to the army of Jeroboam I of Israel before the Battle of Zemaraim (2 Chronicles 13:4). In that speech, Abijah rebuked Jeroboam for his rebellion against the Davidic dynasty and the legitimate priesthood of Jerusalem, and called on Israel to return to faithfulness. The subsequent battle resulted in a decisive victory for Judah, with 500,000 Israelite casualties reported — a figure that underscores the theological character of the account as a demonstration of divine favor toward the Davidic throne and proper worship in Jerusalem. Zemaraim and its associated mountain thus serve as a setting for one of the most explicit theological arguments in Chronicles about the legitimacy of the Davidic covenant and the Jerusalem temple.
Archaeological & Historical Notes
Zemaraim is identified with Ras et Tahuneh, a site located in the hill country between Bethel and Jericho, near the modern Palestinian town of Ramallah. The name may be preserved in the nearby Khirbet es Sumra. The location at the border between Benjaminite and Ephraimite territory fits the geographical setting of the 2 Chronicles 13 battle narrative, which took place in the hill country between Judah and northern Israel. Surface surveys in this area have documented Iron Age pottery, consistent with occupation during the divided monarchy. The region is one of the most archaeologically active in the West Bank, and ongoing survey work continues to clarify the settlement history of this historically significant borderland.
Verse Appearances (1)
Josh
Sources: ISBE Encyclopedia · OpenBible Geocoding (CC BY) · Pleiades Gazetteer View all →