Heights of Gilead, a city of refuge on the east of Jordan; called "Ramoth in Gilead" (Deuteronomy 4:43; Joshua 20:8; 21:38). Here Ahab, who joined Jehoshaphat in an endeavour to rescue it from the hands of the king of Syria, was mortally wounded (1 Kings 22:1-36). A similar attempt was afterwards made by Ahaziah and Joram, when the latter was wounded (2 Kings 8:28). In this city Jehu, the son of Jehoshaphat, was anointed by one of the sons of the prophets (9:1, 4).

It has with probability been identified with Reimun, on the northern slope of the Jabbok, about 5 miles west of Jerash or Gerasa, one of the cities of Decapolis. Others identify it with Gerosh, about 25 miles north-east of es-Salt, with which also many have identified it. (see RAMATH-MIZPEH.)

RAMOTH-GILEAD

ra'-moth-gil'-e-ad (ramoth gil'adh; Codex Vaticanus Rhemmath Galadd; Codex Alexandrinus Rhammoth, and other forms): A great and strong city East of the Jordan in the territory of Gad, which played an important part in the wars of Israel. It is first mentioned in connection with the appointment of the Cities of Refuge (Deuteronomy 4:43 Joshua 20:8). It was assigned to the Merarite Levites (Joshua 21:38 1 Chronicles 6:80). In these four passages it is called "Ramoth in Gilead" (ramoth ba-gil'adh). This form is given wrongly by the King James Version in 1 Kings 22:3. In all other places the form "Ramoth-gilead" is used.e to the shape of a jaw-bone (Judges 15:9, 14, 19). It may have been in Wady es-Sarar, not far from Zorah and Timnath; but the available data do not permit of certain identification.

1. History:

Here Ben-geber was placed in charge of one of Solomon's administrative districts (1 Kings 4:13), which included Havvoth-jair and "the region of Argob, which is in Bashan." The city was taken from Omri by the Syrians under Ben-hadad I (Ant., VIII, xv, 3;), and even after the defeat of Ben-hadad at Aphek they remained masters of this fortress. In order to recover it for Israel Ahab invited Jehoshaphat of Judah to accompany him in a campaign. Despite the discouragement of Micalab, the royal pair set out on the disastrous enterprise. In their attack on the city Ahab fought in disguise, but was mortally wounded by an arrow from a bow drawn "at a venture" (1 Kings 22:1-40 2 Chronicles 18). The attempt was renewed by Ahab's son Joram; but his father's ill fortune followed him, and, heavily wounded, he retired for healing to Jezreel (2 Kings 8:28 2 Chronicles 22:5 f). During the king's absence from the camp at Ramoth-gilead Jehu was there anointed king of Israel by Elisha (2 Kings 9:1 2 Chronicles 22:7). He proved a swift instrument of vengeance against the doomed house of Ahab. According to Josephus (Ant., IX, vi, 1) the city was taken before Joram's departure. This is confirmed by 2 Kings 9:14;. The place is not mentioned again, unless, indeed, it be identical with "Mizpeh" in 1 Maccabees 5:35.

2. Identification:

It is just possible that Ramoth-gilead corresponds to MIZPAH, (1), and to RAMATH-MIZPEH. The spot where Laban and Jacob parted is called both Galeed and Mizpah. Ramath may become Ramoth, as we see in the case of Ramah of the South.

Merrill identifies the city with Jerash, the splendid ruins of which lie in Wady ed-Deir, North of the Jabbok. He quotes the Bah Talmud (Makkoth 9b) as placing the Cities of Refuge in pairs, so that those on the East of the Jordan are opposite those on the West Shechem, being the middle one of the three West of the Jordan, should have Ramorb-gilead nearly opposite to it on the East, and this would place its site at Gerasa, the modern Jerash (Hastings Dictionary of the Bible, under the word). But the words of the Talmud must not be interpreted too strictly. It seems very probable that Golan lay far South of a line drawn due East from Qedes (Kedesh-naphtali). No remains have been discovered at Jerash older than Greek-Roman times, although the presence of a fine perennial spring makes occupation in antiquity probable. The place could be approached by chariots along Wady `Ajlun, and the country adjoining was not unsuitable for chariot evolutions.

Conder and others have suggested Reimun, an ancient site to the West of Jerash. The absence of any source of good water-supply is practically fatal to this identification. Buhl (Geographic des Alten Palestina, 261;) favors el-Jil`ad, a ruined site on a hill South of the Jabbok; see GILEAD, (1). Eusebius and Jerome (Onomasticon, under the word) contradict each other, the former placing Ramoth-gilead 15 miles West, and the latter 15 miles East of Philadelphia. It is clear, however, that this is a mere slip on Jerome's part, as both say it is near the Jabbok. Many have identified it with es-Salt, which is indeed 15 miles West of `Amman (Philadelphia), but it is 10 miles South of the Jabbok, and so can hardly be described as near that river. It is also no place for chariot warfare. The case against identification with Ramoth-gilead is conclusively stated by G.A. Cooke in Driver's Deuteronomy, xx.

In suggesting these sites sufficient attention has not been given to what is said in 1 Kings 4. The authority of the king's officer in Ramoth-gilead extended over the land of Argob in Bashan, as well as over the towns of Jair in Gilead. A situation therefore to the North of Mahanaim must be sought. Guthe would find it at er-Remtheh, on the pilgrim road, about 10 miles South of Mezerib (compare Smith, Historical Geography of the Holy Land, 586;). Cheyne's suggestion of Salkhad, away on the crest of the mountain of Bashan, is out of the question. Caleb Hauser (Palestine Exploration Fund Statement, 1906, 304) argues in favor of Beit Ras, over 11 miles Southeast of Gadara, a position commanding all Northern Gilead and as favorably situated as Jerash for chariot warfare and communication with the West of Jordan. "Here we have the heights of Northern Gilead. Ramoth, Capitolias, and Beit Ras are in their respective languages idiomatic equivalents. It is improbable that a large city like Capitolins should have superseded anything but a very important city of earlier times." We must be content to leave the question open meantime.

W. Ewing

7433. Ramoth Gilad -- a city East of the Jordan
... a city East of the Jordan. Transliteration: Ramoth Gilad or Ramoth Gilad Phonetic
Spelling: (raw-moth') Short Definition: Ramoth-gilead. ...
/hebrew/7433.htm - 6k

Self-Destruction
... the door. He consulted all his false prophets as to whether or not he should
go to attack the Syrians at Ramoth-Gilead. They knew ...
/.../kingsley/twenty-five village sermons/sermon viii self-destruction.htm

Jehoshaphat
... In response, Ahab called together four hundred of the false prophets of Samaria,
and asked of them, "Shall we go to Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 15 jehoshaphat.htm

Unpossessed Possessions
... reason for the woful disproportion between what we have and what we utilise is the
love of ease, such as kept these Israelites from going up to Ramoth-Gilead. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/unpossessed possessions.htm

The Fall of the House of Ahab
... 4. While Ahaziah was visiting his uncle at Jezreel, the prophet Elisha was divinely
directed to send one of the sons of the prophets to Ramothgilead to anoint ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 16 the fall of.htm

Demonstration v. --Of Wars.
... Ahab exalted himself over Micah, and he went up and fell in Ramoth Gilead. Jezebel
gloried over Elijah, and the dogs devoured her in the portion of Jezreel. ...
/.../aphrahat/aphrahat select demonstrations/demonstration v of wars.htm

The Kingdom Op Judah.
... Jehoshaphat was in alliance with Ahab, and went out with him to his last battle
at Ramoth-Gilead, where Ahab tried to put his friend into danger instead of ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson vii the kingdom op.htm

On the Opposing Powers.
... on His left. And the Lord said, Who will deceive Achab king of Israel,
that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead? And one said ...
/.../origen/origen de principiis/chapter ii on the opposing powers.htm

That the Employing Of, and Associating with the Malignant Party ...
... of Abraham, as Jehoshaphat's with Ahab, (2 Chronicles 18:3: "And Ahab king of Israel
said unto Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Wilt thou go with me to Ramoth Gilead ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/section iii that the employing.htm

The Kingdom of Samaria.
... Afterwards, when Ahab went out to recover Ramoth Gilead, wilfully trusting to lying
prophets, and silencing the true one, not all his disguise could avail to ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson viii the kingdom of.htm

The Triumphant Entry
... When Jehu was proclaimed king at Ramoth-Gilead, the captains hastened to make him
sit upon the garments of every one of them, expressing by this national ...
/.../chadwick/the gospel of st mark/chapter 11 1-11 the triumphant entry.htm

Ramothgilead (19 Occurrences)
... attention has not been given to what is said in 1 Kings 4. The authority of the
king's officer in Ramoth-gilead extended over the ...Ramothgilead (19 Occurrences). ...
/r/ramothgilead.htm - 19k

Ramoth-gilead (20 Occurrences)
Ramoth-gilead. Ramothgilead, Ramoth-gilead. Ra'moth-gil'ead . Easton's Bible
Dictionary ... Ramothgilead, Ramoth-gilead. Ra'moth-gil'ead . Reference Bible.
/r/ramoth-gilead.htm - 20k

Ramoth (30 Occurrences)
... See RAMAH, (5). (3) Ramoth in Gilead. See RAMOTH-GILEAD. ... 1 Kings 22:29 So the king
of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to RamothGilead. ...
/r/ramoth.htm - 18k

Victorious (17 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 22:12 All the prophets prophesied so, saying, "Go up to RamothGilead, and
prosper; for Yahweh will deliver it into the hand of the king." (See NIV). ...
/v/victorious.htm - 11k

Forbear (24 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 22:6 Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four
hundred men, and said to them, "Shall I go against RamothGilead to battle, or ...
/f/forbear.htm - 16k

Refrain (33 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 22:6 Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four
hundred men, and said to them, "Shall I go against RamothGilead to battle, or ...
/r/refrain.htm - 16k

Triumph (52 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 22:12 All the prophets prophesied so, saying, "Go up to RamothGilead, and
prosper; for Yahweh will deliver it into the hand of the king." (See RSV). ...
/t/triumph.htm - 24k

Jehosh'aphat (75 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 22:4 And he said unto Jehoshaphat: 'Wilt thou go with me to battle to
Ramoth-gilead?' And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel: 'I am as thou art, my ...
/j/jehosh'aphat.htm - 27k

Prosper (91 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 22:12 All the prophets prophesied so, saying, "Go up to RamothGilead, and
prosper; for Yahweh will deliver it into the hand of the king." (WEB KJV JPS ...
/p/prosper.htm - 35k

Micaiah (27 Occurrences)
... Three years after the great battle with Ben-hadad (20:29-34), Ahab proposed to
Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, that they should go up against Ramoth-Gilead to do ...
/m/micaiah.htm - 21k

What is the significance of the land of Gilead in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Why did God use a lying spirit to deceive Ahab? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Micaiah in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus