Arimathea

Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary

or RAMAH, now called Ramle, or Ramla, a pleasant town, beautifully situated on the borders of a fertile and extensive plain, abounding in gardens, vineyards, olive and date trees. It stands about thirty miles north-west of Jerusalem, on the high road to Jaffa. At this Rama, which was likewise called Ramathaim Zophim, as lying in the district of Zuph, or Zoph, Samuel was born, 1 Samuel 1. This was likewise the native place of Joseph, called Joseph of Arimathea, who begged and obtained the body of Jesus from Pilate,

Matthew 26:57 . There was another Ramah, about six miles north of Jerusalem, in a pass which separated the kingdoms of Israel and Judah, which Baasha, king of Israel, took and began to fortify; but he was obliged to relinquish it, in consequence of the alliance formed between Asa, king of Judah, and Benhadad, king of Syria, 1 Kings 15. This is the Ramah, supposed to be alluded to in the lamentation of Rachel for her children.

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

(Matthew 27:57). The birthplace or abode of the rich man Joseph, who, by Pilate's leave, which he "boldly" craved, casting away the "fear" which had previously kept him from open discipleship (Mark 15:43; John 19:38), buried our Lord's body in his own "new tomb" at Jerusalem. Arimathea, a "city of the Jews" (Luke's vague expression for the Gentiles, to whom no more precise information seemed needful: Luke 23:51) is possibly identical with Ramah, Samuel's birthplace, called Armathaim in the Septuagint (1 Samuel 1:1; 1 Samuel 1:19); but many associate it with Ramleh, on the road from Jaffa to Jerusalem.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Arimathea. (heights). Matthew 27:57; Luke 23:51; John 19:38. St. Luke calls it "a city of Judea." It is identified by many with the modern Ramleh.

People's Dictionary of the Bible

Arimathea (ăr-i-ma-thç'ah), the heights. A city of Palestine, whence came Joseph the counsellor, mentioned in Luke 23:51. Trelawney Saunders places it east of Bethlehem.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Luke 23:51Matthew 27:57,60John 19:381 Samuel 1:1,19Matthew 2:18

Holman Bible Dictionary

Matthew 27:57Luke 23:51