Lexical Summary Maarath: Maarath Original Word: מַעֲרָת Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Maarath A form of ma'arah; waste; Maarath, a place in Palestine -- Maarath. see HEBREW ma'arah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom arah Definition a place in Judah NASB Translation Maarath (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs מַעֲרָת proper name, of a location in Judah Joshua 15:59, Μαψαρωθ, A ᵐ5L Μα(α)ρωθ. Topical Lexicon Etymology and Meaning Maarath (מַעֲרָת) conveys the sense of “a hollowed-out place,” the root imagery evoking a cave or refuge. In a mountainous context such a designation likely pointed either to a settlement nestled in a recessed slope or to nearby natural caverns that shaped the locality’s identity. Biblical Occurrence The name appears once in Scripture, within Judah’s mountainous allotment: “Maarath, Beth Anoth, and Eltekon: six cities, along with their villages” (Joshua 15:59). The placement among other hill-country towns underscores Judah’s varied topography and the divine faithfulness displayed in the concrete distribution of the land promised to Abraham (Genesis 15:18-21). Geographical Setting Located in southern Judah’s central highlands, Maarath likely occupied a site on the ridge running south-southwest of Bethlehem toward Hebron. The region is marked by limestone formations riddled with caves—natural shelters useful for shepherds, refugees, and resistance fighters across the centuries (cf. 1 Samuel 22:1; 2 Samuel 23:13). While the precise tell remains debated, proposals cluster between Halhul and Beth Anoth, areas commanding views of terraced slopes fertile for olives and grapes. Historical Background 1. Conquest Era The listing in Joshua situates Maarath during Israel’s initial settlement. Every city named testifies that the conquest was both spiritual and tangible: covenant promises culminated in boundaries, town walls, and cultivating fields (Deuteronomy 11:10-12). 2. Monarchical and Exilic Eras Though Scripture offers no further narrative about Maarath, Judah’s later history—especially under Rehoboam’s defensive reforms (2 Chronicles 11:5-10)—shows that small upland towns formed strategic links between larger centers. Such settlements absorbed population during Assyrian and Babylonian pressures, preserving remnant communities integral to post-exilic restoration (Ezra 2; Nehemiah 7). Theological and Ministry Significance • Covenant Fulfillment: Maarath’s inclusion among Judah’s holdings manifests the LORD’s meticulous faithfulness; even lesser-known hamlets are counted in the inheritance, assuring believers that divine promises extend to the seemingly insignificant (Hebrews 6:13-18). Archaeological Insights Surveys in the Hebron-Bethlehem corridor reveal Iron Age pottery scatters, cisterns, and rock-hewn complexes compatible with a small fortified village. Tombs carved into soft limestone match the root idea of “hollowed-out” and highlight continuity of burial customs from patriarchal times through the Second Temple period. Lessons for Today 1. God values places and people history overlooks. Related References Genesis 15:18-21; Deuteronomy 11:10-12; Deuteronomy 16:16-17; 1 Samuel 22:1; 2 Samuel 23:13; 2 Chronicles 11:5-10; Ezra 2; Nehemiah 7; Hebrews 4:8-11; Hebrews 6:13-18; 1 Peter 2:5; Colossians 3:3 Forms and Transliterations וּמַעֲרָ֥ת ומערת ū·ma·‘ă·rāṯ ūma‘ărāṯ umaaRatLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Joshua 15:59 HEB: וּמַעֲרָ֥ת וּבֵית־ עֲנ֖וֹת NAS: and Maarath and Beth-anoth KJV: And Maarath, and Bethanoth, INT: and Maarath and Beth-anoth and Eltekon 1 Occurrence |
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