Atharim
LocationsGeographical Setting
Atharim is a geographical site mentioned in the Hebrew Bible as the location where the king of Arad engaged in battle with the Israelites during their wilderness journey.
What is the meaning of Atharim in the Bible?
Atharim denotes a place where the king of Arad fought against Israel and took captives, with textual variants in the Revised Version identifying it as a location while the King James Version translates the phrase as 'the way of the spies'.
SIGNIFICANCE
Understanding Atharim as a specific geographical setting clarifies the narrative of the conflict between Israel and the king of Arad, grounding the biblical account in a tangible historical landscape rather than an abstract concept.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
- Why did the biblical author mention Atharim in this passage?
- What cultural or historical assumption does Atharim clarify?
Source Attribution
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and shortened for clarity.