Timnath
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Topical Encyclopedia
Overview:
Timnath, also referred to as Timnah in some biblical passages, is a location of significant historical and theological importance in the Bible. It is mentioned in various contexts, primarily within the narratives of the Old Testament. Timnath is associated with several key biblical figures and events, serving as a backdrop for accounts that illustrate themes of faith, disobedience, and divine intervention.

Geographical Context:
Timnath is situated in the territory allotted to the tribe of Dan, as described in the Book of Joshua. It is located in the Shephelah, the lowland region of ancient Israel, which is characterized by its rolling hills and fertile valleys. The precise location of Timnath has been a subject of archaeological interest, with some identifying it with the modern site of Tel Batash.

Biblical References:

1. Samson's Story:
Timnath is prominently featured in the narrative of Samson, one of the judges of Israel. In Judges 14, Samson travels to Timnath and becomes enamored with a Philistine woman, whom he decides to marry. This decision sets off a chain of events that highlight the tension between the Israelites and the Philistines. The account of Samson's marriage, his riddle, and the subsequent conflict with the Philistines all unfold in and around Timnath. The Berean Standard Bible recounts, "Then Samson went down to Timnah and saw a young Philistine woman there" (Judges 14:1).

2. Judah and Tamar:
Another significant event associated with Timnath is the account of Judah and Tamar in Genesis 38. After the death of his wife, Judah goes up to Timnath to shear his sheep. It is here that Tamar, his daughter-in-law, disguises herself and deceives Judah into fathering her children, Perez and Zerah. This narrative underscores themes of justice and redemption, as Tamar's actions ensure the continuation of Judah's lineage, which is integral to the messianic line.

3. Inheritance of Joshua:
Timnath-Serah, a variation of the name, is mentioned in the context of Joshua's inheritance. After leading the Israelites into the Promised Land, Joshua is granted Timnath-Serah in the hill country of Ephraim as his inheritance. Joshua 19:50 states, "By the command of the LORD, they gave him the city he had requested—Timnath-serah in the hill country of Ephraim. And he built up the city and settled there." This allocation signifies the fulfillment of God's promises to Joshua and the Israelites.

Theological Significance:
Timnath serves as a setting for narratives that explore the complexities of human behavior and divine providence. The accounts associated with Timnath illustrate the consequences of disobedience and the sovereignty of God in guiding the course of history. The interactions between the Israelites and the Philistines in Timnath reflect the broader struggle between God's chosen people and the surrounding nations.

Cultural and Historical Insights:
The accounts involving Timnath provide valuable insights into the cultural and social dynamics of ancient Israel. The intermarriage between Samson and the Philistine woman highlights the tensions and interactions between different ethnic groups. Additionally, the account of Judah and Tamar offers a glimpse into the customs and legal practices of the time, particularly concerning levirate marriage and inheritance rights.

In summary, Timnath is a multifaceted location within the biblical narrative, serving as a stage for accounts that convey profound spiritual truths and historical realities. Its mention in the Bible invites readers to reflect on the enduring themes of faith, redemption, and God's unwavering faithfulness to His people.
Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary
Timnath

image; figure; enumeration

Smith's Bible Dictionary
Timnath

[TIMNA, OR TIMNAH, TIMNAH]

Easton's Bible Dictionary
Genesis 38:12,14.

(1.) Hebrews Timnathah, which is appropriately rendered in the Revised Version, Timnah, a town in Judah.

(2.) The town where Samson sojourned, probably identical with "Timnah" (1) (Judges 14:1-18).

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
TIMNATH

tim'-hath.

See TIMNAH.

TURPENTINE TREE

tur'-pen-tin.

See TEREBINTH.

Strong's Hebrew
8556. Timnath Cherec -- "territory of the sun," a village in the ...
Timnath Cherec. 8555, 8556. Timnath Cherec. 8556a . "territory of the sun,"
a village in the hill country of Ephraim. Transliteration ...
/hebrew/8556.htm - 6k

8556b. Timnath Serech -- "territory of the sun," a village in the ...
Timnath Serech. 8556a, 8556b. Timnath Serech. 8557 . "territory of the sun,"
a village in the hill country of Ephraim. Transliteration ...
/hebrew/8556b.htm - 6k

8556a. Timnath Cheres -- "territory of the sun," a village in the ...
Timnath Cheres. 8556, 8556a. Timnath Cheres. 8556b . "territory of the sun,"
a village in the hill country of Ephraim. Transliteration ...
/hebrew/8556a.htm - 5k

8553. Timnah -- "territory," two cities in Judah
... Timnah, Timnath, Thimnathah. From manah; a portion assigned; Timnah, the name of
two places in Palestine -- Timnah, Timnath, Thimnathah. see HEBREW manah. ...
/hebrew/8553.htm - 6k

Library

The Story of Samson, the Strong Man
... was by his own strength. When Samson became a young man he went down to
Timnath, in the land of the Philistines. There he saw a ...
/.../marshall/the wonder book of bible stories/the story of samson the.htm

Some Other Towns Near Tiberias. Beth-Meon. Caphar Chittaia. ...
... In the place noted in the margin, they are treating of the town Timnath: of which
it is said, that "Samson went up to Timnath"; and elsewhere, that "the father ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 78 some other towns.htm

A Summary of Israel's Faithlessness and God's Patience
... the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died, being an hundred and ten years
old.9. And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnath-heres, in ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/a summary of israels faithlessness.htm

June 9. "Ye are the Light of the World" (Matt. v. 14).
... Let me dwell in Timnath Serah, Where the sun forever shines, Where the
night and darkness come not, And the day no more declines. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/simpson/days of heaven upon earth /june 9 ye are the.htm

Scriptural Poems; Being Several Portions of Scripture Digested ...
... Now down to Timnath Samson's steps incline, Where seeing the daughter of a Philistine,
He came up and did of his parents crave, That he in marriage might the ...
/.../scriptural poems being several portions.htm

Sennacherib (705-681 BC )
... the group of towns formed by Beth-dagon, Joppa, Beni-barak, and Hazor, which
Sennacherib had just captured, and the cities of Ekrbn, Timnath, and Eltekeh ...
/.../chapter isennacherib 705-681 b c.htm

The Testament of Judah Concerning Fortitude, and Love of Money ...
... Judges 14:1 sqq ). The geographical position of Timnath-serah is against
the allusion being to it here. Cf., however, Jubilees, c ...
/.../iv the testament of judah concerning.htm

Letter cviii. To Eustochium.
... of Joshua the son of Nun and of Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, exactly opposite
the one to the other; that of Joshua being built at Timnath-serah "on the ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter cviii to eustochium.htm

Against Jovinianus.
The Principal Works of St. Jerome. <. ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/against jovinianus.htm

Thesaurus
Timnath (9 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. TIMNATH. tim'-hath. See TIMNAH. TURPENTINE TREE.
tur'-pen-tin. See TEREBINTH. Multi-Version Concordance Timnath (9 Occurrences ...
/t/timnath.htm - 9k

Timnath-serah (2 Occurrences)
Timnath-serah. Timnathserah, Timnath-serah. Tim'nath-se'rah . Easton's Bible
Dictionary ... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. TIMNATH-SERAH. ...
/t/timnath-serah.htm - 10k

Timnath-heres (1 Occurrence)
Timnath-heres. Timnathheres, Timnath-heres. Tim'nath-he'res . Easton's Bible
Dictionary ... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. TIMNATH-HERES. ...
/t/timnath-heres.htm - 7k

Timnathserah (2 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Remaining portion, the city of Joshua in the hill country
of Ephraim, the same as Timnath-heres (Joshua 19:50; 24:30). ...TIMNATH-SERAH. ...
/t/timnathserah.htm - 10k

Timnathheres (1 Occurrence)
... The same as the following. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. TIMNATH-HERES.
tim-nath-he'rez (timnath cherec, "portion of the sun"; Codex ...
/t/timnathheres.htm - 7k

Gaash (4 Occurrences)
... A shaking, a hill, on the north side of which Joshua was buried (Joshua 24:30; Judges
2:9), in the territory of Ephraim. (see TIMNATH-SERAH.). Int. ...
/g/gaash.htm - 8k

Timnah (12 Occurrences)
... It was about 20 miles west of Jerusalem. It has been identified with Timnatha
of Dan (Joshua 19:43), and also with Timnath (Judges 14:1, 5). ...
/t/timnah.htm - 13k

Tim'nath-se'rah (2 Occurrences)
Tim'nath-se'rah. Timnath-serah, Tim'nath-se'rah. Timnite . Multi-Version
Concordance ... (See RSV). Timnath-serah, Tim'nath-se'rah. Timnite . Reference Bible
/t/tim'nath-se'rah.htm - 7k

Joshua (211 Occurrences)
... Having thus subdued the Canaanites, Joshua divided the land among the tribes,
Timnath-serah in Mount Ephraim being assigned to himself as his own inheritance. ...
/j/joshua.htm - 101k

Lion's (14 Occurrences)
... Judges 14:5 And Samson goeth down -- also his father and his mother, to Timnath,
and they come unto the vineyards of Timnath, and lo, a lion's whelp roareth at ...
/l/lion's.htm - 10k

Resources
Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Timnath (9 Occurrences)

Genesis 36:12
and Timnath hath been concubine to Eliphaz son of Esau, and she beareth to Eliphaz, Amalek; these 'are' sons of Adah wife of Esau.
(YLT)

Genesis 38:12
And in process of time the daughter of Shuah Judah's wife died; and Judah was comforted, and went up unto his sheepshearers to Timnath, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite.
(KJV WBS YLT)

Genesis 38:13
And it was told Tamar, saying, Behold thy father in law goeth up to Timnath to shear his sheep.
(KJV WBS YLT)

Joshua 19:50
According to the commandment of Yahweh, they gave him the city which he asked, even Timnathserah in the hill country of Ephraim; and he built the city, and lived there.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Joshua 24:30
They buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnathserah, which is in the hill country of Ephraim, on the north of the mountain of Gaash.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Judges 2:9
They buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnath Heres, in the hill country of Ephraim, on the north of the mountain of Gaash.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Judges 14:1
And Samson went down to Timnath, and saw a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines.
(KJV WBS YLT)

Judges 14:2
And he came up, and told his father and his mother, and said, I have seen a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines: now therefore get her for me to wife.
(KJV WBS YLT)

Judges 14:5
Then went Samson down, and his father and his mother, to Timnath, and came to the vineyards of Timnath: and, behold, a young lion roared against him.
(KJV WBS YLT)

Subtopics

Timnath

Timnath Timnah and Thimnathah

Timnath: A City Given by some Authorities As Identical With Timnah, Number Two

Timnath: Home of Samson's Wife

Related Terms

Timnath-serah (2 Occurrences)

Timnath-heres (1 Occurrence)

Timnathserah (2 Occurrences)

Timnathheres (1 Occurrence)

Gaash (4 Occurrences)

Timnah (12 Occurrences)

Tim'nath-se'rah (2 Occurrences)

Joshua (211 Occurrences)

Lion's (14 Occurrences)

Whelp (4 Occurrences)

Roareth (9 Occurrences)

Bury (78 Occurrences)

Burial (25 Occurrences)

Judah's (18 Occurrences)

Tappuah (8 Occurrences)

Tim'nath-he'res (1 Occurrence)

Timnathah (1 Occurrence)

Ramothgilead (19 Occurrences)

Ramathlehi (1 Occurrence)

Ramoth-gilead (20 Occurrences)

Ramath-lehi (1 Occurrence)

Enam (1 Occurrence)

Enaim (2 Occurrences)

Declareth (71 Occurrences)

Process (5 Occurrences)

Buildeth (73 Occurrences)

Shuah (5 Occurrences)

Samson (37 Occurrences)

Living-place (83 Occurrences)

Dieth (192 Occurrences)

Ephraim (168 Occurrences)

Heres (7 Occurrences)

Beareth (108 Occurrences)

Buried (125 Occurrences)

Dwelleth (142 Occurrences)

Hill-country (85 Occurrences)

Flock (242 Occurrences)

Accordance (118 Occurrences)

Palestine (1 Occurrence)

North (164 Occurrences)

Husband's (19 Occurrences)

Thamnatha

Building (249 Occurrences)

Territory (140 Occurrences)

Hill (217 Occurrences)

Timnah: A Duke of Edom
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