Lexical Summary Baalath: Baalath Original Word: בַּעֲלָת Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Baalath A modification of ba'alah; mistressship; Baalath, a place in Palestine -- Baalath. see HEBREW ba'alah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originprobably from baalah Definition a city in Dan NASB Translation Baalath (3). Brown-Driver-Briggs בַּעֲלָת proper name, of a location Joshua 19:44; 1 Kings 9:18; 2Chronicles 8:6, a city of Dan, possibly Bel`aîn Surveyii. 296. Topical Lexicon Canonical References Joshua 19:44; 1 Kings 9:18; 2 Chronicles 8:6 Geographical Setting Baalath appears first in the tribal allotment of Dan (Joshua 19:44), situated in the Shephelah between the coastal plain and the Judean hill country. Its proximity to Ekron, Gibbethon, and Gath-rimmon places it on or near the main east-west trade routes that linked the interior with the Philistine coast. Some scholars distinguish a second Baalath connected to Solomon’s northern holdings (1 Kings 9:18; 2 Chronicles 8:6), possibly near Lebanon, while others see the king enlarging or rebuilding the Danite site. In either case, the name surfaces only in contexts of territorial distribution and royal administration, not in narratives of warfare or prophetic judgment. Historical Context 1. Allocation under Joshua: Baalath stands among the nineteen towns granted to Dan, underscoring Israel’s divinely ordered inheritance. Although Dan struggled to maintain control over its lowland territory (Judges 1:34), the inclusion of Baalath testifies to God’s original intent for the tribe to occupy strategic ground on the Philistine frontier. Strategic Role in Solomon’s Kingdom • Military logistics: As a “store city,” Baalath stocked grain, oil, weapons, chariots, and horses, enabling rapid deployment along the western approach to Jerusalem. Theological Reflections Though its name contains the element “Baal,” Baalath is never condemned for idolatry in the biblical record. Its inclusion within Israel’s inheritance and Solomon’s infrastructure highlights two complementary truths: 1. God redeems territory once associated with Canaanite deities, bringing it under covenant authority. Archaeological and Scholarly Observations The precise site remains unconfirmed. Proposed identifications include Tell el-Beit Mirsim, Khirbet el-Qiri, and points northward toward the Beqa Valley. Absence of definitive remains limits conclusions, yet the pattern of store-cities discovered elsewhere (Hazor, Megiddo, Gezer) provides a model: casemate walls, large silo-like granaries, and stables adapted for chariot teams. Future excavations in the Danite Shephelah may clarify Baalath’s location. Ministry Applications • Stewardship: Baalath illustrates wise stewardship of resources for the welfare of God’s people. Churches today likewise need strategic planning for gospel ministry and benevolence. Forms and Transliterations בַּעֲלָ֗ת בַּעֲלָ֛ת בעלת וּבַעֲלָֽת׃ ובעלת׃ ba‘ălāṯ ba·‘ă·lāṯ baaLat ū·ḇa·‘ă·lāṯ ūḇa‘ălāṯ uvaaLatLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Joshua 19:44 HEB: וְאֶלְתְּקֵ֥ה וְגִבְּת֖וֹן וּבַעֲלָֽת׃ NAS: and Eltekeh and Gibbethon and Baalath, KJV: and Gibbethon, and Baalath, INT: and Eltekeh and Gibbethon and Baalath 1 Kings 9:18 2 Chronicles 8:6 3 Occurrences |
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