Maarath

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Joshua 15:59

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

from a root meaning "openness or boreness" (Gesenius), or (mearah ) a "cave" (Grove). A town of Judah in the hills (Joshua 15:58-59); not far from Hebron.

Holman Bible Dictionary

Joshua 15:59Micah 1:12

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

MAARATH. A town of Judah ( Joshua 15:59 ). Possibly the name survives in Beit ’Ummâr , west of Tekoa.

Morrish Bible Dictionary

City in the hill country of Judah. Joshua 15:59 . Identified with Beit Ummar, 31 37' N, 35 6' E .

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

mā´a - rath ( מערת , ma‛ărāth ): A city in the hill country of Judah, mentioned between Gedor and Beth-anoth ( Joshua 15:59 ). The small village of Beit Ummar upon the watershed, a little to the West of the carriage road to Hebron and about a mile from Khirbet Jedur (Gedor), is a probable site. There are many rock tombs to its East. The village mosque is dedicated to Nebi Matta , i.e. Matthew. See PEF , III, 305, Sh Xxi .

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(Heb. Maarath', מִעֲרָת, desolation; Sept. Μααρώθ, Vulg. Mareth), a place in the mountains of Judah, mentioned between Gedor and Beth-anoth (Joshua 15:59). De Saulcy suggests a place which he calls Kharbet el- Merassas, south-east of Jerusalem (Narrative, 2:17); and Schwarz declares it is a village called Magr, west of Ekron (Palest. page 107): both far from the indications of the text, which require a locality north of Hebron (Keil's Comment. ad loc.). It may be represented by the ruins marked as Mersia on Van de Velde's Map (1858), on the road room Hebron to Bethlehem, about half way between Bereikut and Solomon's Pools, at Urtas; but on the second edition of his Map (1865) this place disappears, and we have in the required region unappropriated only the ruins Merina, on a little stream just north of Kufin, evidently the "ruined tower called Merrina, seen by him on the high ground south of wady Arub" (Memoir, page 247).