Naioth
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Topical Encyclopedia
Naioth is a location mentioned in the Old Testament, specifically in the First Book of Samuel. It is closely associated with the prophet Samuel and the early life of David, who would later become the king of Israel. The name "Naioth" is often understood to mean "dwellings" or "habitations," suggesting a communal or residential area.

Biblical References:

Naioth is primarily referenced in 1 Samuel 19:18-24. In this passage, David flees from King Saul, who is intent on killing him. David seeks refuge with Samuel at Naioth in Ramah. The text states:

"So David fled and escaped, and he went to Samuel at Ramah and told him all that Saul had done to him. Then he and Samuel went to Naioth and stayed there." (1 Samuel 19:18)

While David is at Naioth, Saul sends messengers to capture him. However, upon arriving, these messengers are overcome by the Spirit of God and begin to prophesy. This happens multiple times, and eventually, Saul himself goes to Naioth, where he too is overcome by the Spirit and begins to prophesy, laying aside his royal garments and prophesying before Samuel.

Significance:

Naioth holds significant importance as a place of divine intervention and prophetic activity. The events at Naioth demonstrate the power of God's Spirit, which can override human intentions and bring about unexpected outcomes. The repeated instances of Saul's messengers, and Saul himself, being compelled to prophesy highlight the sovereignty of God over the affairs of men.

The presence of Samuel at Naioth also underscores its role as a center for prophetic activity. Samuel, as a major prophet and judge in Israel, provides spiritual leadership and guidance, and his association with Naioth suggests it may have been a place where prophets gathered or were trained.

Location:

Naioth is described as being in Ramah, which is Samuel's hometown. The exact location of Naioth is not definitively known, but it is generally considered to be in the region of Benjamin, north of Jerusalem. Ramah itself is identified with several possible archaeological sites, but the precise identification of Naioth remains uncertain.

Theological Themes:

1. Divine Protection: The narrative of David at Naioth illustrates God's protection over His chosen servant. Despite Saul's persistent attempts to capture David, God intervenes supernaturally to safeguard him.

2. Prophetic Authority: The events at Naioth affirm the authority and power of the prophetic office. The Spirit of God working through the prophets demonstrates that God's word and will cannot be thwarted by human opposition.

3. Sovereignty of God: The transformation of Saul and his messengers into prophets serves as a powerful reminder of God's sovereignty. It shows that God can use any situation to fulfill His purposes and that His Spirit can influence anyone, regardless of their intentions.

In summary, Naioth is a significant biblical location that serves as a backdrop for divine intervention and prophetic activity, highlighting themes of God's protection, prophetic authority, and divine sovereignty.
Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary
Naioth

beauties; habitations

Smith's Bible Dictionary
Naioth

(habitations), or more fully, "Naioth in Ramah," a place of Mount Ephraim, the birthplace of Samuel and Saul, and in which Samuel and David took refuge together after the latter had made his escape from the jealous fury of Saul. (1 Samuel 19:18,19,22,23; 20:1) It is evident from ver. (1 Samuel 20:18) that Naioth was not actually in Ramah, Samuel's habitual residence. In its corrected from the name signifies "habitations," and probably means the huts or dwellings of a school or college of prophets over which Samuel presided as Elisha did over those at Gilgal and Jericho.

ATS Bible Dictionary
Naioth

The abode of Samuel, and his pupils in a "school of the prophets," 1 Samuel 19:18-24 20:1. It appears to have been a suburb of Ramah; and David, having sought refuge there with Samuel, was pursued by Saul.

Easton's Bible Dictionary
Dwellings, the name given to the prophetical college established by Samuel near Ramah. It consisted of a cluster of separate dwellings, and hence its name. David took refuge here when he fled from Saul (1 Samuel 19:18, 19, 22, 23), and here he passed a few weeks in peace (Comp. Psalm 11). It was probably the common residence of the "sons of the prophets."
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
NAIOTH

na'-yoth, ni'-oth (nayoth; Codex Vaticanus Auath; Codex Alexandrinus Nauioth): This is the name given to a place in Ramah to which David went with Samuel when he fled and escaped from Saul (1 Samuel 19:18, etc.). The term has often been taken as meaning "houses" or "habitations"; but this cannot be justified. There is no certainty as to exactly what the word signified. Clearly, however, it attached to a particular locality in Ramah; and whatever its etymological significance, it denoted a place where the prophets dwelt together. On approaching it in pursuit of David, Saul was overcome by the Spirit of God, and conducted himself like one "possessed," giving rise to the proverb, "Is Saul also among the prophets?"

W. Ewing

Strong's Hebrew
5121. Navith -- an abode of prophets
... 5120, 5121. Navith. 5122 . an abode of prophets. Transliteration: Navith
Phonetic Spelling: (naw-veeth') Short Definition: Naioth. ... Naioth. ...
/hebrew/5121.htm - 6k
Library

Reverence in Worship.
... And, in like manner, in his old age, when Saul sent to seek David at Naioth, where
Samuel was, his messengers found Samuel and the prophets under him all in ...
/.../newman/parochial and plain sermons vol viii/sermon i reverence in worship.htm

The Exile Continued.
... And he and Samuel went and dwelt in Naioth" (1 Samuel 19:18)"or, as the word probably
means, in the collection of students' dwellings, inhabited by the sons ...
//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/the life of david/v the exilecontinued.htm

Jonathan, the Pattern of Friendship
... THE FIRST BOOK OF SAMUEL JONATHAN, THE PATTERN OF FRIENDSHIP. 'And David fled from
Naioth in Ramah, and came and said before Jonathan, What have I done? ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/jonathan the pattern of friendship.htm

How David, Upon Saul's Laying Snares for Him, did yet Escape the ...
... was made acquainted with the unjust proceedings of the king, he left the city Ramah,
and took David with him, to a certain place called Naioth, and there he ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 11 how david upon.htm

Basil as Archbishop.
... At the end of the basilica, facing the multitude, stood Basil, statue-like, erect
as Samuel among the prophets at Naioth, [174] and quite indifferent to the ...
/.../basil/basil letters and select works/vi basil as archbishop.htm

Preface to the First Edition of the Gospel of the Pentateuch to ...
... But, like Samuel, they have a far higher reward, in the Davids who are silently
strengthened and nurtured by them in Naioth of Ramah"in the glories of a new ...
/.../kingsley/the gospel of the pentateuch/preface to the first edition.htm

The Israelites
... a fitful independence, and Samuel, the representative of the traditions of Shiloh,
was allowed to judge his own people, and preside over a Naioth or "monastery ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter i the israelites.htm

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 6. <. ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm

A Holy Life the Beauty of Christianity: Or, an Exhortation to ...
The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3. <. ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/a holy life the beauty.htm

Thesaurus
Naioth (5 Occurrences)
... It was probably the common residence of the "sons of the prophets.". Int. Standard
Bible Encyclopedia. NAIOTH. ... Multi-Version Concordance Naioth (5 Occurrences). ...
/n/naioth.htm - 9k

Nai'oth (5 Occurrences)
Nai'oth. Naioth, Nai'oth. Naive . Multi-Version Concordance Nai'oth (5
Occurrences). ... And he and Samuel went and dwelt in Naioth. (See RSV). ...
/n/nai'oth.htm - 7k

Ramah (38 Occurrences)
... Here, in Naioth, David found asylum with Samuel from the mad king (19:18, etc.),
and hence, he fled on his ill-starred visit to Nob (20:1). In his native city ...
/r/ramah.htm - 26k

Ramath (10 Occurrences)
... and is escaped, and cometh in unto Samuel to Ramath, and declareth to him all that
Saul hath done to him, and he goeth, he and Samuel, and they dwell in Naioth...
/r/ramath.htm - 10k

Prophesyeth (1 Occurrence)
... 1 Samuel 19:23 And he goeth thither -- unto Naioth in Ramah, and the Spirit of God
is upon him -- him also; and he goeth, going on, and he prophesyeth till his ...
/p/prophesyeth.htm - 6k

Prophesied (57 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 19:23 He went there to Naioth in Ramah. Then the Spirit of God came on
him also, and he went on, and prophesied, until he came to Naioth in Ramah. ...
/p/prophesied.htm - 25k

Prophesying (58 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 19:23 And he went thither to Naioth in Ramah; and the spirit of God came
upon him also, and he went on, and prophesied, until he came to Naioth in ...
/p/prophesying.htm - 25k

Acting (102 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 19:23 And he went on from there to Naioth in Ramah: and the spirit of God
came on him, and he went on, acting like a prophet, till he came to Naioth...
/a/acting.htm - 37k

Proceeded (72 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 19:23 And he went thither to Naioth in Ramah; and the spirit of God came
upon him also, and he went on, and prophesied, until he came to Naioth in ...
/p/proceeded.htm - 27k

Walked (178 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 19:23 He went there to Naioth in Ramah. Then the Spirit of God came on
him also, and he went on, and prophesied, until he came to Naioth in Ramah. ...
/w/walked.htm - 38k

Resources
What does it mean that Saul is also among the prophets? | GotQuestions.org

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Naioth (5 Occurrences)

1 Samuel 19:18
Now David fled, and escaped, and came to Samuel to Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. He and Samuel went and lived in Naioth.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

1 Samuel 19:19
It was told Saul, saying, "Behold, David is at Naioth in Ramah."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

1 Samuel 19:22
Then went he also to Ramah, and came to the great well that is in Secu: and he asked, "Where are Samuel and David?" One said, "Behold, they are at Naioth in Ramah."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

1 Samuel 19:23
He went there to Naioth in Ramah. Then the Spirit of God came on him also, and he went on, and prophesied, until he came to Naioth in Ramah.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

1 Samuel 20:1
David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and said before Jonathan, "What have I done? What is my iniquity? What is my sin before your father, that he seeks my life?"
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Subtopics

Naioth

Naioth: A Place in Ramah

Related Terms

Naioth (5 Occurrences)

Naive (16 Occurrences)

Nain: Jesus Restores to Life a Widow's Son In
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