rimmon Summary and Overview

pomegranate. (1.) A man of Beeroth (2 Sam. 4:2), one of the four Gibeonite cities. (See Josh. 9:17.) (2.) A Syrian idol, mentioned only in 2 Kings 5:18. (3.) One of the "uttermost cities" of Judah, afterwards given to Simeon (Josh. 15:21, 32; 19:7; 1 Chr. 4:32). In Josh. 15:32 Ain and Rimmon are mentioned separately, but in 19:7 and 1 Chr. 4:32 (compare Neh. 11:29) the two words are probably to be combined, as forming together the name of one place, Ain-Rimmon=the spring of the pomegranate. It has been identified with Um er-Rumamin, about 13 miles south-west of Hebron. (4.) "Rock of," to which the Benjamites fled (Judg. 20:45, 47; 21:13), and where they maintained themselves for four months after the fearful battle at Gibeah, in which they were almost exterminated, 600 only surviving out of about 27,000. It is the present village of Rummon, "on the very edge of the hill country, with a precipitous descent toward the Jordan valley," supposed to be the site of Ai.

RIM'MON (pomegranate). 1. The name of an idol worshipped in Damascus. 2 Kgs 5:18. Naaman, who was in the habit of attending the king in his idolatrous services in the temple of Rimmon, seems to have been perplexed about a question of duty as to continuing this practice. See Naaman. 2. A Benjamite, father of the two men who slew Ish-bosheth. 2 Sam 4:2, 2 Sam 4:5, 2 Sam 4:9.

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.