Gederothaim
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Topical Encyclopedia
Gederothaim is a location mentioned in the Old Testament, specifically within the context of the tribal allotments in the Book of Joshua. It is listed among the towns in the inheritance of the tribe of Judah. The name "Gederothaim" is believed to mean "two walls" or "enclosures," suggesting a place that may have been fortified or had significant structures.

Biblical Reference:

Gederothaim is mentioned in Joshua 15:36, which details the towns allotted to the tribe of Judah. The verse in the Berean Standard Bible reads: "Sharaim, Adithaim, and Gederothaim—fourteen cities, along with their villages."

Historical and Geographical Context:

The precise location of Gederothaim is not definitively known today, and it is not mentioned elsewhere in the biblical text. Some scholars suggest that it may have been located in the lowland region of Judah, an area characterized by its fertile plains and strategic importance. The lowland, or Shephelah, was a region of rolling hills between the coastal plain and the central highlands, often serving as a buffer zone in times of conflict.

Textual Considerations:

There is some debate among biblical scholars regarding the mention of Gederothaim in the text. In some ancient manuscripts and translations, Gederothaim is not listed separately but is thought to be a scribal duplication or a textual variant of the town "Gederah," which is also mentioned in the same passage. This has led to discussions about whether Gederothaim was a distinct location or a textual repetition.

Theological Significance:

From a theological perspective, the mention of Gederothaim, like other towns in the tribal allotments, underscores the fulfillment of God's promise to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The division of the land among the tribes of Israel is a testament to God's faithfulness and the establishment of Israel in the Promised Land. Each town and village, including Gederothaim, represents a piece of the larger narrative of God's covenant relationship with His people.

Cultural and Archaeological Insights:

While there is limited archaeological evidence directly associated with Gederothaim, the broader region of Judah has been the focus of extensive archaeological study. Findings in the Shephelah have provided insights into the daily life, culture, and historical events of the biblical period. These discoveries help to illuminate the context in which towns like Gederothaim existed and the role they played in the life of ancient Israel.

In summary, Gederothaim is a minor yet intriguing part of the biblical narrative, reflecting the historical and theological dimensions of the land allotments to the tribes of Israel. Its mention, though brief, contributes to the rich tapestry of biblical history and the unfolding account of God's people.
Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary
Gederothaim

hedges

Smith's Bible Dictionary
Gederothaim

(two sheepfolds), a town in the low country of Judah, (Joshua 15:36) named next in order to Gederah.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
GEDEROTHAIM

ged-e-ro-tha'-im (gedherathayim, "place of enclosures"): Stands as the 15th in a list which professes to give only the names of 14 cities in the Judean Shephelah (Joshua 15:36). the King James Version margin suggests that we might read "or" for "and" after Gederah, but this is impossible. Septuagint reads, "and its cattle shelters." Probably, however, the name has arisen by dittography from the preceding GEDERAH (which see).

Strong's Hebrew
1453. Gederothayim -- "double wall," a place in Judah
... "double wall," a place in Judah. Transliteration: Gederothayim Phonetic Spelling:
(ghed-ay-ro-thah'-yim) Short Definition: Gederothaim. ... Gederothaim. ...
/hebrew/1453.htm - 6k
Thesaurus
Gederothaim (1 Occurrence)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia GEDEROTHAIM. ged-e-ro-tha ... which see).
Multi-Version Concordance Gederothaim (1 Occurrence). Joshua 15 ...
/g/gederothaim.htm - 7k

Gederotha'im (1 Occurrence)
Gederotha'im. Gederothaim, Gederotha'im. Gedi . ... Joshua 15:36 and Shaaraim, and
Adithaim, and Gederah, with Gederothaim; fourteen cities with their villages. ...
/g/gederotha'im.htm - 6k

Unwalled (39 Occurrences)
... places. (BBE). Joshua 15:36 And Shaaraim, and Adithaim, and Gederah, and
Gederothaim; fourteen towns with their unwalled places. (BBE). ...
/u/unwalled.htm - 17k

Gede'roth (2 Occurrences)
Gede'roth. Gederoth, Gede'roth. Gederothaim . Multi-Version Concordance ... (See
RSV). Gederoth, Gede'roth. Gederothaim . Reference Bible.
/g/gede'roth.htm - 7k

Gede'rah (2 Occurrences)
... Gede'rah (2 Occurrences). Joshua 15:36 and Shaaraim, and Adithaim, and Gederah,
with Gederothaim; fourteen cities with their villages. (See RSV). ...
/g/gede'rah.htm - 6k

Gederah (2 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Gederah (2 Occurrences). Joshua 15:36 Shaaraim, Adithaim
and Gederah (or Gederothaim); fourteen cities with their villages. ...
/g/gederah.htm - 8k

Fourteen (26 Occurrences)
... Joshua 15:36 Shaaraim, Adithaim and Gederah (or Gederothaim); fourteen cities with
their villages. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). ...
/f/fourteen.htm - 15k

Adithaim (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Adithaim (1 Occurrence). Joshua 15:36 Shaaraim, Adithaim
and Gederah (or Gederothaim); fourteen cities with their villages. ...
/a/adithaim.htm - 7k

Aditha'im (1 Occurrence)
... Aditha'im (1 Occurrence). Joshua 15:36 and Shaaraim, and Adithaim, and Gederah,
with Gederothaim; fourteen cities with their villages. (See RSV). ...
/a/aditha'im.htm - 6k

Shaara'im (1 Occurrence)
... Shaara'im (1 Occurrence). Joshua 15:36 and Shaaraim, and Adithaim, and Gederah,
with Gederothaim; fourteen cities with their villages. (See RSV). ...
/s/shaara'im.htm - 6k

Resources
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Concordance
Gederothaim (1 Occurrence)

Joshua 15:36
Shaaraim, Adithaim and Gederah (or Gederothaim); fourteen cities with their villages.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Subtopics

Gederothaim

Gederothaim: A City in the Plain of the Tribe of Judah

Related Terms

Gedi (6 Occurrences)

Gederothaim (1 Occurrence)

Gederoth: A City in the Plain of the Tribe of Judah
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