Rimmon in Fausset's Bible Dictionary

1. Father of Rechab and Bannah: 2 Samuel 4:2-9.(See RECHAB; BAANAH.) 2. An idol worshipped by the Syrians of Damascus (2 Kings 5:18). The name appears in Hadad Rimmon. From rum, "the most high"; as El-ion (Selden, Gesenius, etc.). Others from Hebrew rimmon, a "pomegranate," sacred to Venus; the fertilizing principle in nature; tree worship anciently having prevailed, a perverted relic of the tradition of Eden's tree of life. Hadadrimmon may be the full name, from Hadad "the sun god" and Rimmon the pomegranate" ripened in the autumn. 3. A town of Zebulun (See REMMON.) 4. Of Judah in Simeon's portion (Joshua 15:32, where Joshua 15:29 for Joshua 15:36 is a copyist's error); near the southern bound of Judah (Zechariah 14:10). Omit "and" between Ain and Rimmon, and make one name Ain-Rimmon or En- Rimmen, as Engedi (Nehemiah 11:29). Um-er-rumamin, "mother of pomegranates," four hours N. of Beersheba, corresponds (Robinson, Researches, iii. 8). From the neighboring hill region the spies brought pomegranates and figs (Numbers 13:23). 5. Rimmon "the rock"; where the 600 surviving Benjamites retreated after the slaughter of the tribe, and kept themselves four months (Judges 20:45; Judges 20:47; Judges 21:13). Fifteen Roman miles N. of Jerusalem. Now the village Rummon stands on and round the top of a conical limestone mountain, and is visible in all directions (Robinson, 2:113). The houses cling to the sides as huge steps. On the southern side the mountain rises hundreds of feet from the ravine wady Mutyah, and on the western side it is isolated by a deep cross valley. It lies three miles E. of Bethel, and seven N.E. of Gibeah.