Baalah
LocationsGeographical Setting
Baalah is a biblical toponym appearing in the Hebrew Bible, primarily identified with Kiriath-jearim, the site where the Ark of the Covenant was housed before being brought to Jerusalem.
What is the meaning of Baalah in the Bible?
Baalah refers to a city in the territory of Judah, also known as Kiriath-jearim, where the Ark of the Covenant remained for twenty years before King David transferred it to Jerusalem.
SIGNIFICANCE
Understanding Baalah clarifies the historical narrative of the Ark's journey, highlighting the political and religious centralization efforts of King David as he moved the cultic center from a peripheral Judean town to the capital.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
- Why did the biblical author mention Baalah in this passage?
- What cultural or historical assumption does Baalah 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.