Ataroth
Ataroth (עטרות ‘Ǎṭārōṯ) is the name of two or three Iron Age cities mentioned in the Hebrew Bible and the Mesha Stele.
Etymology
Atarot(h) may mean "crowns" or "cattle pens" in Hebrew.[1]
Mesha Stele
The Mesha Stele from about 840 BC was erected commemorating
Ashtar-Chemosh.[2][clarification needed
]
Hebrew Bible and identification
In the Hebrew Bible, the name Ataroth refers to one of two or perhaps three towns:
- A town east of the tribal allotment of Reuben, but was built up by the Gadites during the period of Israelite conquest. This is very probably Khirbat Ataruz,[3] north of Wadi Heidan. The Mesha Stele(Moabite Stone) is likely referring to this town.
- A town west of the Jordan, mentioned in Lower Bethoron.[4]
- A town west of the Jordan, possibly the same as above, mentioned in Joshua, 16:7, which gives the borders of Ephraim within Joseph.
Notes
- ^ ISBN 978-0-310-49235-1.
- ^ Albright, William Foxwell (1957). From the Stone Age to Christianity. Garden City, New York: Doubleday. pp. 280.
- ^ [1][permanent dead link]
- ^ Charles L. Souvay, "Biblical Geography: Geographical Names in Holy Scripture: Atarotj". Catholic Encyclopedia (1907-1912) via Catholic Answers. Accessed 2 April 2024.