Who or what is Kirjath-Jearim in the Bible?

Blog Lessons

🇺🇸 EN | 🇺🇦 UK

Home › locations › Kirjath-Jearim

Kirjath-Jearim

Locations

Modern Location Khirbet el-Qel'ah, near the modern village of Nebi Samwil, Israel

Coordinates 31.8167° N, 35.1833° E

Geographical Setting

Kirjath-jearim was an ancient Canaanite city situated on a ridge in the Judean hills, historically significant as the resting place of the Ark of the Covenant before its transfer to Jerusalem.

What is the meaning of Kirjath-Jearim in the Bible?

Kirjath-jearim was an ancient town located on the border of the territory of Judah and Benjamin. Its name translates from Hebrew as 'City of Forests' or 'City of Woods'.

SIGNIFICANCE

Understanding Kirjath-jearim clarifies the geographic context of the Ark's twenty-year residence in the house of Abinadab, illustrating the transitional period before the centralization of worship in Jerusalem.

Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide

Geopolitical & Terrain Context: Kirjath-Jearim (located near modern Khirbet el-Qel'ah, near the modern village of Nebi Samwil, Israel) held strategic importance. Understanding its position and trade routes explains why key biblical events unfolded here.

Bible Study Reflection Prompts:

Why did the biblical author mention Kirjath-Jearim in this passage?
What cultural or historical assumption does Kirjath-Jearim 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.

How to Cite This Entry

          "Kirjath-Jearim." Ancient Context Dictionary. Accessed 2026. https://ancientcontext.com/context/kirjathjearim/
        

Report Error