RAMOTH-GILEAD
Ramoth-Gilead
Dr. Merrill strongly urges the claims of Jerash as the site of this place (East of the Jordan, page 284 sq.), but Tristram (Bible Places, page 337) adheres to es-Salt.
Fuente: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
Ramoth-gilead
(Heb. Ramoth’ Gilad’, ; Sept. , , and v. r. ; Josephus, ; Vulg. Ramoth Galaad), the heights of Gilead; or RAMOTH IN GILEAD ( Sept. , , , v.r. , ; Vulg. Ramoth in Galaad, Deu 4:43; Jos 20:8; Jos 21:38 1Ki 22:3 [in the A.V. only], also written plen, , in 2Ch 22:5; and simply RAMAH, in 2Ki 8:29, and 2Ch 22:6), one of the chief cities of the tribe of Gad, on the east side of the Jordan. It was allotted to the Levites, and appointed a city of refuge (Deu 4:43; Jos 20:8). The latter fact would seem to indicate that it occupied a central position in the tribe, and also probably in the country assigned to the Israelites east of the Jordan. Ramoth played for a time an important part in Israelitish history, and was the scene of many a hard struggle. It was apparently a strong fortress, and considered the key of the country. Hence, when taken by the Syrians, the kings of Israel and Judah regarded it as a national loss, affecting both kingdoms, and they combined to drive out the common enemy (1Ki 22:4 sq.). The united attack was unsuccessful, and the king of Israel was mortally wounded in the battle (22:34-37). At a later period, apparently in the reign of Joram (2Ki 9:14-15; comp. Josephus, Ant. 9:6, 1), Ramoth was taken from the Syrians and held, notwithstanding all the efforts of Hazael to regain it. Joram, having been wounded in the struggle, left his army under the command of Jehu, and returned to Jezreel to be healed (2Ki 8:29). During his absence Jehu was anointed by order of Elisha (9:1, 2), and commissioned to execute vengeance on the wicked house of Ahab (2Ki 8:7-10). Leaving Ramoth, Jehu drove direct to Jezreel. The king, expecting news from the seat of war, had watchmen set on the towers, who saw his chariot approaching (2Ki 8:16-17). The rest of the story is well known. SEE AHAB; SEE JEHU. After this incident Ramoth-gilead appears no more in Jewish history.
The exact position of Ramoth is nowhere defined in Scripture. The name (Ramloth, heights) would seem to indicate that it occupied a commanding position on the summit of the range of Gilead. In 1Ki 4:13, we read that when the districts of Solomon’s purveyors were arranged, the son of Geber was stationed in Ramoth, and had charge of all the cities of Jair the son of Manasseh, both in Gilead and Bashan; and these cities extended over the whole north-eastern section of Palestine beyond Jordan. Various opinions have been entertained regarding the site of this ancient city. Some would identify it with Jerash, the old Roman Gerasa, whose ruins are the most magnificent and extensive east of the Jordan (see Benjamin of Tudela, by Asher); but this is too far north, and Jerash, besides, lies in a valley. Ewald would locate it at the village of Reisen among the mountains, five miles west of Jerash (Gesch. Isr. 3:500). For this there is no evidence whatever. Others locate it on a site bearing the name of Jel’ad, exactly identical with the ancient Hebrew Gilead, which is mentioned by Seetzen (Reisen, March 11, 1806), and marked on his map (ibid. iv) and that of Van de Velde (1858) as four or five miles north of es- Salt. Schwarz (Palest. p. 232 sq.) identifies this Ramoth with Kullut el- Rabat, which is situated on one of the highest points of the mountain of Gilead, not far from the Wady Rajib, and west of Ajlin. It is even now strongly fortified, and is visible at a great distance, especially to the northeast. The most probable opinion regarding the site of Ramoth is that which places it at the village of es-Salt. This is indicated
(a) by its position on the summit of a steep hill;
(b) by its old ecclesiastical name Saltus Hiercaticus, which appears to point to its original sacerdotal and holy character, Ramoth having been both a Levitical city and a city of refuge (see Reland, Paloest. p. 213);
(c) by the fact that about two miles to the north-west of es-Salt is the highest peak of the mountain-range still bearing the name Jebel Jilad, Mount Gilead; and
(d) by the statement of Eusebius that Ramoth-gilead lay in the fifteenth mile from Philadelphia towards the west, and this is the exact distance of es-Salt from Rabbath-Ammon (Onomast. s.v. Rammoth). The situation of es-Salt is strong and picturesque. The hill on which it stands is separated by deep ravines from the loftier mountains that encompass it, and its lower slopes are covered with terraced vineyards, while the neighboring hill-sides and valleys abound with olive-groves. On the summit stands the castle, a rectangular building with towers at the corners, and defended by a deep moat hewn in the rock. The foundations appear to be Roman, if not earlier, but the upper walls are Saracenic. In the town itself, which contains some three thousand inhabitants, there are few remains of antiquity. In the cliffs and ravines beneath it are great numbers of tombs and grottos (Handbook for Sinai and Palestine, p. 308). Es-Salt is famous for its vineyards, and its raisins are esteemed the best in Palestine. They are carried in large quantities to Jerusalem (Burckhardt, Syria, p. 349; Irby and Mangles, Travels, p. 321; Ritter, Pal. und Syr. p. 1121-38; Abulfeda, Tab. Syr. p. 92; Buckingham, Travels, p. 20). Kitto. It is now the only inhabited place in the province of Belka. It is still a place of comparative strength, and overawes the Bedawin by a garrison under the pasha of Damascus. Tristram says of it, Ramoth-gilead must always have been the key of Gilead at the head of the only easy road from the Jordan, opening immediately on the rich plateau of the interior, and with this isolated cone (the Osha) rising close above it, fortified from very early times, by art as well as by nature. Of the fortress only a tall fragment of wall remains, and a pointed archway, with a sort of large dial-plate, carved deeply in stone, surrounded by a rose-work decoration. It appears to be all modern Turkish work (Land of Israel, p. 555). There is a plateau, he further tells us, on the road towards Jordan, and there probably the battle was fought where Ahab received his mortal wound-that being the only place where chariots could come into play.
Winer and others identify Ramoth-gilead, Ramath-mizpah, and Mizpah of Gilead. On this, SEE MIZPAH; SEE RAMAH.
Fuente: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
Ramoth-gilead
heights of Gilead, a city of refuge on the east of Jordan; called “Ramoth in Gilead” (Deut. 4:43; Josh. 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)
Fuente: Easton’s Bible Dictionary
Ramoth Gilead
(“Heights of Gilead.”) A fortress commanding Argob and the Jair towns, occupied by Solomon’s commissariat officer (1Ki 4:13). Keenly fought for by the Israelites and their enemies the Syrians under Ahab and Joram (1Ki 22:4; it had been seized by Benhadad I from Omri; Josephus Ant. 8:15, section 3. Ahab fell in attempting to recover it). Joram of Israel allied himself with Ahaziah of Judah (2Ch 22:5-6), gained and kept Ramoth Gilead in spite of Hazael (2Ki 9:14-15; Josephus Ant. 9:6; section 1). Jehu from it started to seize the kingdom. 2Ki 8:28 or Ramath Mizpeh in Jos 13:26. The spot called by Jacob in his covenant with Laban, of which the pillar and stone heap was pledge, Galeed and Mizpah. (See MIZPAH.) A city of refuge in Gad (Deu 4:43; Jos 20:8; Jos 21:38). Now Es Salt, W. of Philadelphia, or else Jela’ad (Gilead) four miles N. of Es Salt, for Ramath Mizpeh is in the N. of Gad (Jos 13:26), which Es Salt is not. The Arabic of Jos 13:26 has Ramah el Jeresh or Ramah el Jerash (Gerasa).
Fuente: Fausset’s Bible Dictionary
RAMOTH-GILEAD
As its name indicates, Ramoth-gilead was in the territory of Gilead, east of the Jordan River. It was in the region of the ill-defined border between the tribes of East Manasseh and Gad, and was one of the three cities of refuge in Israels trans-Jordan territory (Jos 20:8-9). (For maps and other details see CITY OF REFUGE; GILEAD.)
Ramoth-gileads chief importance was as a defence outpost on the nations eastern frontier. Many battles were fought there, and the town often fell to invading armies (1Ki 22:1-40; 2Ki 8:28-29; 2Ki 9:1-16). It was among the first places to fall when Assyria conquered Israel and carried the people into captivity (2Ki 15:29).
Fuente: Bridgeway Bible Dictionary
Ramoth-Gilead
ramoth-gile-ad ( , ramoth giladh; Codex Vaticanus , Rhemmath Galaad; 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 (Deu 4:43; Jos 20:8). It was assigned to the Merarite Levites (Jos 21:38; 1Ch 6:80). In these four passages it is called Ramoth in Gilead ( , ramoth ba- giladh). This form is given wrongly by the King James Version in 1Ki 22:3. In all other places the form Ramoth-gilead is used.
1. History:
Here Ben-geber was placed in charge of one of Solomon’s administrative districts (1Ki 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 ff), 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 Ki 22:1-40; 2 Ch 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 (2Ki 8:28 ff; 2Ch 22:5 f). During the king’s absence from the camp at Ramoth-gilead Jehu was there anointed king of Israel by Elisha (2Ki 9:1 ff; 2Ch 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 2Ki 9:14 ff. The place is not mentioned again, unless, indeed, it be identical with Mizpeh in 1 Macc 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 Bab 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 Kedes (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 ff) favors el-Jilad, 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 Ki 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 Mezerb (compare Smith, Historical Geography of the Holy Land, 586 ff). 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 f) 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.
Fuente: International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Ramoth Gilead
[Ra’moth Gil’ead]
Fortified city on the east of the Jordan and south of the Jabbok, in the tribe of Gad. It was one of Solomon’s strongholds, but it afterwards fell into the hands of the Syrians. Ahab lost his life in trying to recover it. Joram was successful in taking it, but was wounded by the Syrians. We do not read of it later. 1Ki 4:13; 1Ki 22:4-29; 2Ki 8:28; 2Ki 9:1-14; 2Ch 18:2-28; 2Ch 22:5. See RAMAH No. 5 and MIZPAH No. 1. It is called RAMOTH IN GILEAD, a Levitical city and a city of refuge. Deu 4:43; Jos 20:8; Jos 21:38; 1Ki 22:3; 1Ch 6:80. Identified by some with es Salt, 32 2′ N, 35 43′ E. Others prefer Reimun, 32 16′ N, 35 49′ E.
Fuente: Concise Bible Dictionary
Ramoth-Gilead
H7433
Called Ramah
2Ki 8:29; 2Ch 22:6
A city of Gad, and a city of refuge
Deu 4:43; Jos 20:8; 1Ch 6:80
One of Solomon’s commissaries at
1Ki 4:13
In the possession of the Syrians
1Ki 22:3
Besieged by Israel and Judah; Ahab slain at
1Ki 22:29-36; 2Ch 18
Recovered by Joram; Joram wounded at
2Ki 8:28-29; 2Ki 9:14-15; 2Ch 22:5-6
Elisha anoints Jehu king at
2Ki 9:1-6
Fuente: Nave’s Topical Bible
Ramoth-gilead
Ra’moth-gil’ead. (heights of Gilead). One of the great fastnesses on the east of Jordan, and the key to an important district. 1Ki 4:13. It was the city of refuge, for the tribe of Gad, Deu 4:43; Jos 20:8; Jos 21:38, and the residence of one of Solomon’s commissariat officers. 1Ki 4:13. During the invasion related in 1Ki 15:20, or some subsequent incursion, this important place had seized by Ben-hadad I, king of Syria.
The incidents of Ahab’s expedition are well known. See Ahab. Later, it was taken by Israel, and held, in spite of all the efforts of Hazael, who was now on the throne of Damascus, to regain it. 2Ki 9:14. Henceforward, Ramoth-gilead disappears from our view. Eusebius and Jerome specify the position of Ramoth as 15 miles from Philadelphia (Amman). It may correspond to the site bearing the name of Jel’ad, exactly identical with the ancient Hebrew Gilead, which is four or five miles north of es-Salt, 25 miles east of the Jordan and 13 miles south of the brook Jabbok.
Fuente: Smith’s Bible Dictionary
RAMOTH-GILEAD
a city of refuge
Deu 4:43; 1Ki 22:3; 2Ki 8:28; 2Ki 9:1; 2Ch 18:2