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A. Location and ethnicity [German source] The Philistine cities comprised Gaza (‘Azza), Ashkelon/Ascalon (Ašqǝlon), Ashdod (Ašdod), Ekron (‘Eqron, now Tel Miqne) and Gath (now Tell eṣ-Ṣāfī, east of Ašdod). All have been excavated with the exception of Gaza [3]; [6]. The modern concept of a Philistine ‘pentapolis’ is deceptive, because there was no league of independent or autonomous cities. The history of the Philistine cities is instead characterized by successive phases in which one city exercised hegemonic authority over the others.The cities lie in the southwestern co…

A. Lage und Ethnizität Zu den philistäischen Städten werden Gaza (‘Azza), Aschkelon (Ašqǝlon), Aschdod (Ašdod), Ekron (‘Eqron, h. Tel Miqne) und Gath (h. Tell eṣ-Ṣāfī, östl. von Ašdod) gezählt. Mit Ausnahme von Gaza sind sie alle ausgegraben worden [3]; [6]. Der mod. Begriff einer philistäischen »Pentapolis« ist irreführend, da es keinen Bund unabhängiger oder autonomer Städte gab. Vielmehr ist die Geschichte der philistäischen Städte durch abwechselnde polit. Hegemonien einer Stadt über die anderen gekennzeichnet. Überblick: Östlicher Mittelmeerraum 2.7.1.…

[English Version] Thekoa, Ort im Bergland von Juda, an der Grenze zw. Siedlungsland und Wüste (2Chr 20,20) und zw. Bethlehem und Hebron. Die Lage erklärt die Anwesenheit kalebitischer Geschlechter (Stämme Israels) aus Hebron (1Chr 2,24; 4,5). In Jos 15 nicht erwähnt, erscheint Th. als Distrikt mit Th., Bethlehem und Orten in Jos 15,59.60 LXX. Davids Held Ira stammt aus Th. (2Sam 23,26; vgl.1Chr 27,9). 2Chr 11,5ff. läßt Th. durch Rehabeam befestigen, möglicherweise bezieht sich der Text aber auf Jo…

[English Version] (Syrien), libanesische Hafenstadt, arab. Tarāblus aš-Šām mit Vorort al-Mīna. Die angebliche Gründung durch Tyrus, Sidon und Arwad mit getrennten befestigten Stadtteilen (Strab. XVI 2,15 und Diodorus XVI 41,1) ist wohl eine Volksetym. des phön. Namens Ṭarpol, »Neuland«. Früheste Funde aus der SB- und E-Zeit. In achämenidischer Zeit Verwaltungshauptstadt von Phönizien und Sammelplatz der phön. Flotten von Arwad, Tyrus und Sidon (Skylax 104 und Diodorus Siculus XVI 41). Esr 4,9 erwähnt Beamte des Perserkönigs aus Ṭaˇrp elajê. Heiligtum der Isis Myrio…

[German Version] The site of biblical Hebron (Arab. Ǧăbal ar-Rumēda), also called Kiriath-arba (Gen 23:2 etc.), lies west of modern Hebron (Arab. el-Ḫalīl). According to Num 12:22, Hebron was built seven years before the Hyksos city of Zoan. Traditions surrounding Abraham, Sarah, and Isaac are associated with Hebron (Gen 23; 25:9f.; cf. 35:27–29). It is said to have been an Anakite city (Josh 15:13f.), taken by Joshua or Judah (Josh 10:3ff.; cf. Josh 11:21 and Judg 1:10). According to Judg 1:20, h…

[German Version] Town 25km north of Shechem in Samaria (LXX: Dothaim, Vulgate: Dothain). It is here that Joseph is supposed to have been sold by his brothers (Gen 37:17–28). An Aramean force besieged the city during the time of Elisha; the town must therefore have been fortified at the time (2 Kgs 6:13–19). In the story of Judith, Dothan is located in the …

[German Version] One of the five major cities of the Philistine Pentapolis (cf. Josh 13:3; 1 Sam 7:14). The location of Gath is still under discussion, although there is a growing consensus to identify Gath with Tell eṣ-Ṣafi. This tell already appears in the Madeba map from Byzantine times as Safita. The Amarna texts mention Gath as Gimtu (Moran 290); Gath later plays an important role in the David tradition (1 Sam 21:11; 27:1–12): the ark of the covenant was housed at Gath (Ark of YHWH; 1 Sam 5:8…

[German Version] A seaport in northern Israel. It was first settled in the Early Bronze I period and has been occupied almost continuously since Middle Bronze IIA. It is first mentioned in the Egyptian execration texts; since the time of Thutmoses III (Egypt) in the Late Bronze period it appears in Egyptian sources and the Amarna letters. At that time the city…

[German Version] Arabic Ǧabal aš-Šayḫ, Phoenician Siryon, LXX Ermon, in the Aramaic Targum Talgā. Mount Hermon is the highest mountain between the historical regions of Phoenicia, Syria, Galilee, and the Golan and the southern extremity of the Antilebanon. The highest of the three, almost equally high peaks attains 2814 m. The Old Testament mentions Mount Hermon's wealth in water (sources of the Jordan), dew (Ps 133:3), wood (Exod 27:5), and wildlife (Song 4:8). Mount Hermon belonged to the territ…

[German Version] A place in the territory of Benjamin (Josh 18:26), located on the modern Tell en-Nasbeh. Mizpah is mentioned as the place where the tribes gathered, for example for the judgment against Benjamin (Tribes of Israel; Judg 20:1, 3; 21:1, 5, 8) – probably a late tradition reflecting rather the significance of Mizpah in post-exilic times. Older traditions that give Mizpah the status of a tribal center may perhaps be found in 1 Sam 7:5–12 (cf. 7:16; 10:17–27). Under Asa, Mizpah ¶ is supposed to have been built up as a frontier fortress (1 Kgs 15:22/2 Chr 16:6). After…

[German Version] 1. A city of the Canaanites (Josh 10:38–39) and Anakim (Josh 11:21), 13 km southwest of Hebron, which was annihilated by Joshua and whose territory was allotted to the Israelites (Josh 12:13). According to another (and probably older) tradition in Judg 1:11–13 (also Josh 15:15), the city (here with its earlier name, Kiriath-sepher) was taken by the Kenizzite Othniel, an ally of the Calebites. Another earlier name is Kiriath-sannah (Josh 15:49), which could have been the Calebite name of the settlement, unless it represents a scribal error ( OLB II, 765; cf. …

[German Version] (Syria), Lebanese port; Arabic Tarāblus aš-Šām with its suburb al- Mīna. Its reputed foundation by Tyre, Sidon, and Arwad with three separate fortified districts (Strab. XVI 2.15; Diodorus XVI 41.1) probably rests on a popular etymology of the Phoenician name Ṭarpol, “new territory.” The earliest finds date from the Late Bronze and Iron Ages. In the Achaemenid period, it was the administrative capital of Phoenicia and the assembly area for the Phoenician fleets of Arwad, Tyre, an…

[German Version] town in the hill country of Judah, on the boundary between settled areas and desert (2 Chr 20:20) and between Bethlehem and Hebron. Its location explains the presence of Calebite tribes (Tribes of Israel) from Hebron (1 Chr 2:24; 4:5). Though not mentioned in Josh 15, it appears as a district with Tekoa, Bethlehem, and other towns in Josh 15:59f. LXX. David’s warrior Ira was from Tekoa (2 Sam 23:26; cf. 1 Chr 27:9). Rehoboam is said to have had Tekoa fortified (2 Chr 11:5ff.), bu…

[German Version] Hamath, city on the river Orontes in mid-Syria (modern Ḥamā) and an important regional center since the Bronze Age. Danish excavations (H. Ingholt, 1931–1938) document the existence of a settlement from the 5th millennium bce. A first historical mention of the city in the Ebla texts (3rd mill. bce) is controversial. The ancient name Hamath is not attested in the 2nd millennium bce, although archaeological remains of the Middle and Late Bronze Age have been uncovered. The settlement is mentioned in Assyrian texts from the 9th century onward (…

[German Version] An ancient town in northern Syria (modern Arab. name Manbiğ, also Mambiğ), Hierapolis is perhaps to be identified with the Late Bronze Age PBḪ mentioned in Egyptian sources or with the Papaḫḫi of Hittite texts, which is probably to be equated with the Neo-Assyrian Nappigi/Nampigi. During the Hellenistic-Roman period, it was known as Bambyke, the Byzantine/Syriac Mabbog and Greek Hierapolis. A prominent cult center of the goddess Astarte (local name: Atargatis) and of the god Hadad…

[German Version] (Heb. כַּרְמֶל, “fruit garden, orchard”), limestone and chalk mountain range in northern Palestine, up to 552m high, to the south of the tribe of Asher (Josh 19:26; Tribes of Israel). The OT praises the mountain's beauty (Isa 35:2). In the 3rd and 2nd millennia bce, it is referred to in Egyptian sources as “nose of a gazelle,” and later as “holy head,” probably alluding to a sanctuary. On the Carmel, the Canaanite-Phoenician ¶ god Baal was worshiped, who is equated with Zeus in Ps.-Skylax, Periplus 104 (4th cent. bce), according to Tacitus Hist. 78.3 and Suet. Vesp. 5.6 call…

[German version] (Hebrew Bible: ‘orchard, tree grove’; Arabic Ǧabal Carmel or Ǧabal Mār Ilyās; Greek Κάρμηλος; Vulgate: Carmelus; crusader: Mons Carmel). Limestone and chalk mountains in northern Palestine, 5-8 km wide, 23 km long and up to 552 metres high. According to Biblical tradition the Carmel was situated south of the Asher tribe (Jos. 19,26). The Hebrew Bible praises the beauty of the mountain range (HL 7,6; Is. 33,9; 35,2; Jer. 46,18; 50,19; Am 1,2; 9,3; Nah 1,4). In Egyptian sources of the 3rd and 2nd millennium BC, Carme…

[English version] (hebräische Bibel: “Obstgarten, Baumhain”; arab. Ǧabal Karmel oder Ǧabal Mār Ilyās; griech. Κάρμηλος; Vulgata: Carmelus; Kreuzfahrer: Mons Carmel). Kalkstein- und Kreidegebirge in Nord-Palaestina, 5-8 km breit, 23 km lang und bis zu 552 m hoch. Nach biblischer Trad. lag der K. im Süden des Stammes Ascher (Jos 19,26). Die hebr. Bibel preist die Schönheit des Gebirges (HL 7,6; Jes 33,9; 35,2; Jer 46,18; 50,19; Am 1,2; 9,3; Nah 1,4). Im 3. und 2. Jt.v.Chr. in äg. Quellen wird der K. als “Gazellennase”, später als …

(Ἐπιφάνεια). [English version] [1] Stadt in Kilikia Pedias Stadt in Kilikia Pedias (Ptol. 5,8,7; Steph. Byz. s.v. E., 274 Meineke), zuvor Oiniandos (Plin. nat. 5,93), nach Antiochos [6] IV. Epiphanes in E. umbenannt. Straßenstation (Geogr. Rav. 2,16,93; [2. 766]). E. wurde 260 n.Chr. von Šapur I. erobert [1. 312f.]. Mit der Ordnung der Prov. von 408 wurde E. zu den Städten der Cilicia II gerechnet (Hierokles, 705,5). Die Ruinen (Theater und Aquädukt gut erh.) liegen ca. 8 km westl. von Erzin in Gözene/Gözcucler Harabeleri. Sayar, Mustafa H. (Köln) Bibliography 1 A. Maricq, Res Ge…

(Ἐπιφάνεια; Epipháneia). [German version] [1] City in Cilicia Pedias City in Cilicia Pedias (Ptol. 5,8,7; Steph. Byz. s.v. E., 274 Meineke), previously Oeniandus (Plin. HN 5,93), renamed E. after  Antiochus [6] IV Epiphanes. Road station (Geogr. Rav. 2,16,93; [2. 766]). In AD 260, E. was captured by Šapur I [1. 312f.]. After the restructuring of the province in AD 408, E. was seen as one of the cities of Cilicia II (Hierocles, 705,5). Its ruins (well preserved theatre and aqueduct) are c. 8 km west of Erzin in Gözene/Gözcucler Harabeleri. Sayar, Mustafa H. (Cologne) Bibliography 1 A. …