Lexical Summary Amam: Amam Original Word: אֲמָם Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Amam From 'em; gathering-spot; Amam, a place in Palestine -- Amam. see HEBREW 'em NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as em Definition a place in S. Judah NASB Translation Amam (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs אֲמָם proper name, of a location in southern Judah Joshua 15:26 (ᵐ5L Ἀμαμ, so A, but B Σην). Topical Lexicon Geographical Setting Amam is catalogued among the settlements of the Negev, the arid southern region of Judah that stretches toward Edom. Its association with nearby towns such as Shema and Moladah (Joshua 15:26) situates it in the same general corridor as Beer Sheba, an area defined by seasonal wadis, low rolling hills, and strategic caravan routes linking the Judean heartland with the desert fringe. Although its exact tell has not been conclusively identified, proposals cluster it southwest of Arad and east of modern Beer Sheba, fitting the arrangement of Joshua’s town list that moves west-to-east across the southern frontier. Biblical Occurrence Amam is mentioned a single time in Scripture: “Amam, Shema, Moladah” (Joshua 15:26). The verse stands within Joshua’s detailed register of forty-eight towns that formed Judah’s southern inheritance (Joshua 15:21–32). While the verse offers no narrative about Amam itself, its inclusion underlines the completeness of the allotment and the careful preservation of each clan’s possession. Historical Context 1. Conquest and Allotment: The list in Joshua 15 reflects the period just after Israel’s entrance into the land, when territories were apportioned by lot. Amam’s placement among the Negev towns highlights Judah’s responsibility for a harsh but pivotal frontier that buffered Israel from Edom and served as a gateway for trade and migration. Role in Tribal Inheritance Amam helped form the southernmost line of Judah’s territorial promise. Each listed town, no matter how obscure, testified that every tribe received a divinely fixed inheritance (Numbers 34:13). The meticulous survey demonstrates God’s faithfulness “not one of all the good promises that the Lord had made … failed” (Joshua 21:45). Amam’s solitary mention therefore contributes to the larger theology of land as gift, stewardship, and responsibility. Theological and Ministry Reflections • Faithfulness in the Small: Amam’s brief appearance models how Scripture values seemingly minor places and people. The Lord records what might appear insignificant to emphasize that every portion of His plan matters. Modern Identification and Archaeological Notes Scholars suggest sites such as Khirbet Umm Amad or areas near Tell Malhata based on pottery, water sources, and proximity to Shema and Moladah, yet conclusive evidence remains pending. These proposals continue to affirm the biblical itinerary’s coherence with the physical landscape. Key Insights for Ministry Today 1. Record and remember the small advances of God’s kingdom; no work is invisible to Him. Amam, though briefly cited, enriches the tapestry of biblical geography and underlines the meticulous faithfulness of the Lord who assigns inheritances and remembers every community within His covenant people. Forms and Transliterations אֲמָ֥ם אמם ’ă·mām ’ămām aMamLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Joshua 15:26 HEB: אֲמָ֥ם וּשְׁמַ֖ע וּמוֹלָדָֽה׃ NAS: Amam and Shema and Moladah, KJV: Amam, and Shema, and Moladah, INT: Amam and Shema and Moladah |
    |