Lexical Summary Chorem: Ban, Devotion, Destruction Original Word: חֱרֵם Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Horem From charam; devoted; Chorem, a place in Palestine -- Horem. see HEBREW charam NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom charam Definition "sacred," a place in Naphtali NASB Translation Horem (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs חֳרֵם proper name, of a location (sacred; compare Sabean proper name, of a location אחרם DHMEpigr. Denkm. 43) — a place in tribe of Naphtali Joshua 19:38 (P); not identified. Topical Lexicon Scriptural Setting The name appears once in the canon, within the register of cities allotted to the tribe of Naphtali during the division of the land under Joshua. “Iron, Migdal-el, Horem, Beth-anath, and Beth-shemesh—nineteen cities, along with their villages” (Joshua 19:38). Its placement in the list situates it among communities clustered around the western and northern shores of the Sea of Galilee. Geographical Location While no excavation has definitively fixed the site, the context of neighboring towns (Rakkath, Chinnereth, and Hammath) points to Lower Galilee, likely a few miles northwest of today’s Tiberias. Suggested tells include Khirbet Hârâm or Khirbet el-Ḥârmeh, both commanding views of the Galilean basin. Such a location would have offered fertile valleys, access to the Via Maris trade artery, and proximity to freshwater fisheries—assets prized by Naphtali’s pastoral and agrarian clans. Historical Significance Horem belonged to the sixth lot drawn for Naphtali, a tribe renowned for mobility and valor (Genesis 49:21; Judges 4:6–10). Its inclusion among “fortified cities” (Joshua 19:35) implies some defensive importance during the late-Bronze–early-Iron transition. Although later Old Testament narratives do not mention the town directly, its region became a strategic corridor contested by Arameans (1 Kings 15:20), Assyrians (2 Kings 15:29), and eventually integrated into the Galilee of the Nations (Isaiah 9:1–2). Theological Themes 1. Covenant Fulfillment: The listing of Horem testifies to the Lord’s faithfulness in granting Israel the promised inheritance (Genesis 15:18–21; Joshua 21:43–45). Each named village, however small, affirms that “not one word of all the good promises” failed. Archaeological and Cultural Insights Galilean towns commonly featured stone-built dwellings, cisterns, and olive presses. Pottery from nearby tells suggests continuity from the Late Bronze Age into the Persian period, mirroring the Bible’s record of sustained, if punctuated, occupation. Discoveries of cultic standing stones and horned altars in the region illustrate the constant temptation toward syncretism that the prophets decried. Ministry Applications • God’s meticulous care: Even obscure communities fall within His providence, encouraging modern believers in small ministries or remote contexts. Summary Horem stands as a quiet witness to the faithfulness of God, the integrity of Scripture’s geographic details, and the unfolding plan that would one day shine the light of Christ into Galilee. Forms and Transliterations חֳרֵ֥ם חרם choRem ḥo·rêm ḥorêmLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Joshua 19:38 HEB: וּמִגְדַּל־ אֵ֔ל חֳרֵ֥ם וּבֵית־ עֲנָ֖ת NAS: and Migdal-el, Horem and Beth-anath KJV: and Migdalel, Horem, and Bethanath, INT: and Yiron and Migdal-el Horem and Beth-anath and Beth-shemesh |
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