Bahurim

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

("youths".) E. of Jerusalem, the abode, of Shimei, son of Gera ( 2 Samuel 16:5;  2 Samuel 17:18;  1 Kings 2:8). When David left the summit of Olivet behind and was descending the eastern slopes to the Jordan valley below, in his flight front Absalom, Shimei came forth from Bahurim and ran along the side ("rib") of the hill, abusing David and flinging stones and dust, in a manner common in the East in the case of fallen greatness. Bahurim was evidently off the main road. Here, in the court of a house, Jonathan and Ahimaaz lay hidden under the well's covering upon which grain was spread. Here Phaltiel parted with his wife Michal, when she was claimed by David ( 2 Samuel 3:16). Azmaveth, one of David's valiant men, was a Baharumite ( 1 Chronicles 11:33), or Barhumite ( 2 Samuel 23:31). Ganneau identifies with Fakhoury, a locality between Olivet, Siloam, Bethany, and Abou Dis.

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

BAHURIM . The place where Paltiel, son of Laish, was ordered to relinquish Michal (  2 Samuel 3:16 ); where Shimei dwelt, who cursed David in his flight (  2 Samuel 16:5 ); where Ahimaaz and Jonathan hid in the well from Absalom (  2 Samuel 17:18-19 ); and the home of Azmaveth, one of David’s mighty men ( 1Ch 11:33 ,   2 Samuel 23:31 , where Barhumite is written for Baharumite ). It was in the tribe of Benjamin (cf. the passages relating to Shimei),’ and the account of David’s flight, which supplies the only topographical indications, accords with the traditional identification with Almit , N.E. from the Mount of Olives, and about a mile beyond ‘Anata (Anathoth) from Jerusalem.

R. A. S. Macalister.

Holman Bible Dictionary

 2 Samuel 3:16 2 Samuel 16:5 2 Samuel 19:16 2 Samuel 17:18 1 Kings 2:36-46 1 Chronicles 11:33 2 Samuel 23:31

People's Dictionary of the Bible

Bahurim ( Ba-Hû'Rim ), Young Men. A town of Benjamin, near Jerusalem, on the road to the Jordan. It is several times mentioned in the history of David.  2 Samuel 3:16;  2 Samuel 16:5;  2 Samuel 17:18.

Morrish Bible Dictionary

Village of Benjamin, near the road running from the valley of the Jordan to Jerusalem.  2 Samuel 3:16;  2 Samuel 16:5;  2 Samuel 17:18;  2 Samuel 19:16;  1 Kings 2:8 .

Easton's Bible Dictionary

 2 Samuel 3:16 19:16

With the exception of Shimei, Azmaveth, one of David's heroes, is the only other native of the place who is mentioned ( 2 Samuel 23:31;  1 Chronicles 11:33 ).

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

A town of Benjamin, near Jerusalem, on the road to the Jordan. It is several times mentioned in the history of David,  2 Samuel 3:16;  16:5;  17:18 .

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Bahu'rim. (Low Ground). A village,  2 Samuel 16:6, apparently on or close to the road leading up from the Jordan valley to Jerusalem, and near the south boundary of Benjamin.

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(Heb. Bachurim', בִּחֻרים , or [in  2 Samuel 3:16;  2 Samuel 19:17] בִּחוּרַים , Low Grounds, otherwise Young Men'S village; Sept. Βαουρίμ , but Βαχουρίμ [v. r. Βαρακίμ ] in  2 Samuel 3:16; Josephus Βαχουρής , Ant. 7:9, 7, ed. Havercamp; for other var. readings, see Reland, Palaest. p. 614), a place not far from Jerusalem, of which the slight notices remaining connect it almost exclusively with the flight of David (q.v.) from his son Absalom (q.v.). It was apparently on or close to the road leading up from the Jordan valley to Jerusalem. Shimei, the son of Gera, resided here ( 2 Samuel 17:18;  1 Kings 2:8), and from the village, when David, having left the "top of the mount" behind him, was making his way down the eastern slopes of Olivet into the Jordan valley below. Shimei issued forth, and running along (Josephus Διατρεχων ) on the side or "rib" of the hill over against the king's party, flung his stones and dust, and foul abuse (16:5), with a virulence which is to this day exhibited in the East toward fallen greatness, however eminent it may previously have been. Here in the court of a house was the well in which Jonathan and Ahimaaz eluded their pursuers (17:18). In his account of the occurrence, Josephus ( Ant. 7:9, 7) distinctly states that Bahurim lay off the main road ( Παῖδες Ἐκτραπέντες Τῆς Ὁδοῦ ) , which agrees well with the account of Shimei's behavior. Here Phaltiel, the husband of Michal, bade farewell to his wife on her return to king David at Hebron ( 2 Samuel 3:16). Bahurim must have been near the southern boundary of Benjamin; but it is not mentioned in the lists in Joshua, nor is any explanation given of its being Benjamite, as, from Shimei's residing there, we may conclude it was. In the Targum Jonathan on  2 Samuel 16:5, we find it given as Almon ( עִלְמֹן ); but the situation of Almon (see  Joshua 21:18) will not at all suit the requirements of Bahurim. Dr. Barclay conjectures that the place lay where some ruins (apparently those called Kubbeh on Van de Velde's Map, near the remains of Deir es-Sid, as in Robinson's Researches, 2:109) still exist close to a Wady Ruwaby, which runs in a straight course for three miles from Olivet toward Jordan, offering the nearest, though not the best route (City of the Great King, p. 563). Azmaveth "the Barhumite" ( 2 Samuel 23:31), or "the Baharumite" ( 1 Chronicles 11:33), one of the heroes of David's guard, is the only native of Bahurim that we hear of except Shimei. — Smith, s.v.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ba - hū´rim בּחרים , baḥurı̄m  ; Βαουρείμ , Baoureı́m usually, but there are variants): A place in the territory of Benjamin which lay on an old road from Jerusalem to Jericho followed by David in his flight from Absalom (2 Sam 15:32 through 16:5ff). It ran over the Mount of Olives and down the slopes to the East. The Talmud identifies it with Alemath, the modern Almı̄t , about a mile beyond ‛Anātā , going from Jerusalem. If this identification is correct, Wādy Fārah may be the brook of water ( 2 Samuel 17:20 ). Here Paltiel was parted from his wife Miehal by Abner ( 2 Samuel 3:16 ). It was the home of Shimei, who ran along a ridge of the hill cursing and throwing stones at the fugitive king ( 2 Samuel 16:5;  1 Kings 2:8 ). In Bahurim Jonathan and Ahimaaz, the messengers of David, were concealed in a well by a loyal woman ( 2 Samuel 17:18 ). Azmaveth, one of David's heroes, was a native of Bahurim. In  2 Samuel 23:31 we should read, as in   1 Chronicles 11:33 , Barahumite.

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblial Literature

Bahu´rim, a place not far from Jerusalem, beyond the Mount of Olives, on the road to the Jordan, where Shimei cursed and threw stones at David ( 2 Samuel 16:5).