Jarmuth - International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

JARMUTH

jar'-muth (yarmuth:

(1) A city of the Canaanites in the Shephelah (Joshua 15:35) of Judah whose "king," Piram, joined the league of the "five kings" against Joshua (Joshua 10:3-5), was defeated at Gibeon and slain at Makkedah (10:23). One of the 31 "kings" defeated in Joshua' s campaign (Joshua 12:11). In Joshua 15:35 it is mentioned in conjunction with Adullam, Socoh and Azekah, and in Nehemiah 11:29 with Zorah, Zanoah and Adullam. Cheyne (Encyclopedia Biblica) suggests that the "Maroth" of Micah 1:12 may be a copyist's error for Jarmuth. In Eusebius, Onomasticon (OS2 132 31; 266 38) mention is made of a Iermochos, or Jermucha, 10 Roman miles Northeast of Eleutheropolis (Beit Jibrin), The site of this once important place is Khirbet el Yarmuk, a ruin, with many old walls and cisterns, on the top of a hill 1,465 ft. above sealevel. It is nearly 2 miles Northwest of Belt Nattif, from which it is visible, and 8 1/2 miles, as measured on map, N.N.E. of Belt Jibrin. Compare PEF, III, 128, Sh XVIII.

(2) A city of Issachar belonging to the "children of Gershon, of the families of the Levites" (Joshua 21:29); in the duplicate list in 1 Chronicles 6:73 we have Ramoth, while in the Septuagint version of Joshua 21:29 we have, in different VSS, Rhemmath or Iermoth. In Joshua 19:21 "Remeth" occurs (in Hebrew) in the lists of cities of Issachar; in the Septuagint Rhemmas or Rhamath. The name was probably "Remeth" or "Ramoth," but the place has never been identified with any certainty.

See RAMOTH.

E. W. G. Masterman

Bibliography Information
Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. "Entry for 'JARMUTH'". "International Standard Bible Encyclopedia". 1915.