2578. Chamath Tsobah

Lexical Summary

Chamath Tsobah: Hamath-Zobah

Original Word: חֲמַת צוֹבָה
Part of Speech: Proper Name Location
Transliteration: Chamath Tsowbah
Pronunciation: khah-MAHT tso-BAH
Phonetic Spelling: (kham-ath' tso-baw')
KJV: Hamath-Zobah
NASB: Hamath-zobah
Word Origin: [from H2574 (חֲמָת - Hamath) and H6678 (צּוֹבָא צּוֹבָה צּוֹבָה - Zobah)]

1. Chamath of Tsobah
2. Chamath-Tsobah
3. probably the same as H2574

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

Hamath-Zobah

From Chamath and Tsowba'; Chamath of Tsobah; Chamath-Tsobah; probably the same as Chamath -- Hamath-Zobah.

see HEBREW Chamath

see HEBREW Tsowba'

see HEBREW Chamath

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from Chamath and Tsoba
Definition
a place N. of Damascus
NASB Translation
Hamath-zobah (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

צוֺבָא, צוֺבָה proper name, of a territory Σουβα, rarely Σωβα(λ): an Aramaean kingdom, time of (Saul and) David אֲרַם צוֺבָא 2 Samuel 10:6,8 (elsewhere צוֺבָה), אֲרַם צוֺבָה Psalm 60:2 (title); ׳הֲדַדְעֶזֶר מֶלֶךְ צ 2 Samuel 8:3,5,12 = 1 Chronicles 18:3,5; 1 Kings 11:23; 1 Chronicles 18:9; ׳צ also 1 Chronicles 19:6; ׳חֲמַת צ2Chronicles 8:3; original home of one of David's heroes 2 Samuel 23:36 (perhaps read also for proper name, masculine מִבְחָר "" 1 Chronicles 11:38, compare Dr); ׳מַלְכֵי צ 1 Samuel 14:47 (only here in Saul's time); Nö^{ARAM, in Ency. Bib., compare ZMG xxv (1871), 113 ff.} places between Hamath and Demascus (about „ums, Emesa), and so Dl^{Pa 279 f.}, who compare Assyrian city ‚ubitu, compare Schr^{COT. 2 Samuel 8:8}.

Topical Lexicon

Name and Identity

Hamath Zobah is a compound toponym that merges two Aramean regions—Hamath and Zobah—into a single designation for the northern area subdued by King Solomon. The expression appears only once in Scripture (2 Chronicles 8:3), yet it stands at the crossroads of earlier Davidic conquests and later prophetic boundary-markers.

Geographical Context

Hamath lay on the Orontes River in modern-day western Syria, frequently cited as Israel’s northern frontier (Numbers 34:7-8; Ezekiel 47:15). Zobah was an Aramean kingdom stretching southeast of Hamath toward the Beqaa and upper Euphrates valleys (1 Samuel 14:47; 2 Samuel 10:6). The combined phrase “Hamath Zobah” therefore points to the broad corridor between the Orontes and the Euphrates—strategically astride north–south and east–west trade routes.

Biblical Occurrence

“Then Solomon went to Hamath Zobah and captured it.” (2 Chronicles 8:3)

Historical Significance in Solomon’s Expansion

1. Military Consolidation
• Solomon’s seizure of Hamath Zobah follows his father’s victories over both Hamath (2 Samuel 8:9-11) and Zobah (2 Samuel 8:3-8). While David’s campaigns were defensive and preparatory, Solomon’s action completed the consolidation, securing a peaceful buffer for his empire (1 Kings 4:24).

2. Building Projects
• The Chronicler immediately links the conquest with Solomon’s establishment of storage cities at Tadmor in the wilderness (2 Chronicles 8:4). Control of Hamath Zobah provided access to desert oases and caravan nodes, enabling the king to tax, provision, and protect the lucrative trade in copper, timber, spices, and textiles.

3. International Relations
• Hamath’s rulers earlier sent David tribute (2 Samuel 8:10). By Solomon’s day the region had regained autonomy; its recapture signaled that Israel’s supremacy northward remained intact even after David’s passing.

Relation to Davidic Conquests

David “struck down Hadadezer son of Rehob king of Zobah as he went to restore his control at the Euphrates River” (2 Samuel 8:3). Solomon’s foray into Hamath Zobah demonstrates the covenant continuity of the united monarchy. What David gained through warfare, Solomon secured in peace, illustrating the pattern forecast to David: “Behold, you will have a son… I will give him rest from all his enemies” (1 Chronicles 22:9).

Strategic and Economic Importance

• Trade Corridors: The region linked Mesopotamia with Phoenicia and the Mediterranean. Solomon’s dominion assured unhindered movement for Israelite merchants and cooperated with Hiram of Tyre (2 Chronicles 8:18).
• Natural Resources: The Orontes valley yielded timber and fertile farmland, while the adjoining desert provided caravan staging points.
• Defense: Controlling Hamath Zobah pushed hostile Aramean powers farther from Israel’s heartland, creating strategic depth.

Covenantal and Theological Themes

1. Fulfillment of Promised Borders

The capture of Hamath Zobah aligns with God’s pledge that Israel’s territory would extend “from the Red Sea to the Sea of the Philistines and from the wilderness to the Euphrates” (Exodus 23:31).

2. Kingship under Divine Mandate

Solomon’s success underscores that royal authority is effective only while it remains subordinate to the covenant (Deuteronomy 17:18-20). The Chronicler’s brief notice of the conquest, followed by attention to Temple worship (2 Chronicles 8:12-13), reinforces that political triumph must serve spiritual worship.

Prophetic Allusions

Later prophets retain Hamath as a northern boundary marker of Israel’s eschatological restoration (Ezekiel 47:15-17; Zechariah 9:2). Solomon’s historic occupation anticipates that future day when all promised borders will be realized under Messiah’s reign.

Lessons for Christian Ministry

• Stewardship of Success: Solomon leveraged military victory to advance worship and prosperity, reminding believers that every achievement should propel God-centered mission (1 Corinthians 10:31).
• Continuity of God’s Plan: Hamath Zobah illustrates that the Lord’s purposes span generations; what He begins with David He establishes through Solomon, encouraging ministry leaders to labor faithfully even when harvest may come through others (John 4:37-38).
• Boundary Vision: Just as Solomon pressed to the God-appointed borders, the Church is called to advance the gospel “to the ends of the earth” (Acts 13:47), trusting the same sovereign God who secured Hamath Zobah to accomplish His global redemption today.

Forms and Transliterations

צוֹבָ֔ה צובה ṣō·w·ḇāh ṣōwḇāh tzoVah

Englishman's Concordance

2 Chronicles 8:3
HEB: שְׁלֹמֹה֙ חֲמָ֣ת צוֹבָ֔ה וַיֶּחֱזַ֖ק עָלֶֽיהָ׃
NAS: went to Hamath-zobah and captured
KJV: went to Hamathzobah, and prevailed
INT: went Solomon to Hamath-zobah and captured and

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 2578
1 Occurrence

ṣō·w·ḇāh — 1 Occ.