Ramath-Negeb
Holman Bible Dictionary [1]
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature [2]
or Ramath Of The South (Heb. Ramath' Ne'geb, רָמִת נֶגֶב; Sept. Βαμὲθ κατὰ λίβα, v. r. Ι᾿αμὲθ κατὰ λίβα ; Vulg. Ranath contra australem plagam ), a place apparently on the extreme southern border of Simeon. In this form it is only mentioned in Joshua 19:8; and, from the peculiarity of the construction, there being no copulative, it would seem to be only another name for Baalath-Beer, as suggested by Reland (Palaest. p. 964), and interpreted by Keil (ad loc.); yet the Sept. makes the places distinct. Be this as it may, Negeb is manifestly the name of a district, and not a general term, signifying "south." (See Negeb). Ramah is not mentioned in the list of Judah (comp. Joshua 15:21-32), nor in that of Simeon in 1 Chronicles 4:28-33; nor is it mentioned by Eusebius and Jerome. Van de Velde (Memoir , p. 342) takes it as identical with Ramath- lehi, which he finds at Tell el-Lekiyeh; but this appears to be so far south as to be out of the circle of Samson's adventures, and, at any rate, must wait for further evidence.
In 1 Samuel 30:27, South Ramoth (רָוֹתאּנֶגֶב, in the plural; Sept. ῾Ραμὰ νότου, v. r. ῾Ραμὰθ νότου Vulg. Ramuoth ad nzeridien ) is mentioned as one of the cities to which David sent portions of the spoils of the Amalekites. Doubtless, it is the same place called by Joshua Ramath- negeb. The name should be written Ramoth-negeb. The site is unknown, and the region where it stood is, in a great measure, unexplored.
