kerioth Summary and Overview

cities. (1.) A town in the south of Judah (Josh. 15:25). Judas the traitor was probably a native of this place, and hence his name Iscariot. It has been identified with the ruins of el-Kureitein, about 10 miles south of Hebron. (See HAZOR T0001694 [4]). (2.) A city of Moab (Jer. 48:24, 41), called Kirioth (Amos 2:2).

(cities). 1. A name which occurs among the lists of the towns in the southern district of Judah. #Jos 15:25| Supposed by some to have been the birthplace of Judas Iscariot. 2. A city of Moab, named by Jeremiah only, #Jer 48:24|

KE'RIOTH (cities). 1. A town in the south of Judah, Josh 15:25; perhaps from whence Iscariot, "the man of Kerioth," came; perhaps Kureitein, or Umm Kheshram, near Beersheba. 2. A strong city of Moab. Jer 48:24, 1 Chr 4:41: Am 2:2.

("closely contiguous cities".) 1. Read together, without "and," Kerioth Hezron (Kuryetein, "the two cities," now 10 miles S. of Hebron): Joshua 15:25; in southern Judah. Hazor implies a pastoral spot; Kerioth, kir ("a wall"), kirjah , imply "military fortifications"; Welsh, caer . The Hazors are in the southern or Negeb plain; the Kirjahs in the hills. 2. A city of Moab (Jeremiah 48:24), named with other places "far and near"; if "far" include 60 miles N.N.E. of Heshbon, then Kerioth is now Kureiyeh and Bozrah is Buzrah. Others conjecture Kureyat; Cyril Graham Kiriath and Kiriatain S.W. of Bozrah, containing primitive and gigantic edifices, the roofs formed of stone beams laid side by side, 25 ft. long, and the doors slabs of single stones; the work probably of the giant Emim, the name Kerioth too being perhaps of Anakim origin.