Ramah in Biblical History

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Schaff's Bible Dictionary

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What is Ramah?
RA'MAH
(high place), the name of several towns in Palestine. 1. A city of Benjamin near to Gibeah, and occupied once by Saul. Josh 18:25; Jud 19:13; 1 Sam 22:6. It was on a site naturally strong; was fortified by Baasha, but the king of Judah stopped the work through the co-operation of the Syrians. 1 Kgs 15:17-22; 2 Chr 16:1-6. At the capture of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar the captives were placed under guard at Ramah; among them was the prophet Jeremiah. Jer 39:8-12; Jer 40:1. It was here his prophecy was fulfilled, "A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping." Jer 31:15. This prophecy was again illustrated and fulfilled by the slaughter of the innocents at Bethlehem when Jesus was born. Matt 2:17-18. Ramah was reoccupied after the Captivity. Ezr 2:26; Neh 7:30. The town has been identified with er-Ram, about 5 miles north of Jerusalem, where broken columns, many large hewn stones in the houses, and other ancient remains are to be found. The village is a small and miserable one, having only about fifteen families, but the view from it is very extensive. 2. The birthplace, home, and burial-place of the prophet Samuel, the word being a contraction of "Ramathaim-zophim." 1 Sam 1:1; 1 Sam 2:11; 1 Sam 7:17; 1 Sam 8:4; 1 Sam 15:34; 1 Sam 16:13; 1 Sam 19:18; 1 Sam 25:1; 1 Sam 28. Stanley says that the position of this Ramah is the most complicated and disputed problem of sacred topography. The place was on an eminence south of Gibeah, the birthplace of Saul, and is also said to be "of Mount Ephraim," a district, however, without defined boundaries. 1 Sam 1:1, 1 Sam 1:19. The following sites for Ramah have been proposed:(1) Neby-Samwil, 4 miles north-west of Jerusalem, where it is placed by the common tradition of Muslims, Jews, and Christians, and Grove is inclined to favor it; (2) Er-Ram, which is the same as Ramah, No. 1; (3) Ramleh, 2 miles south-west of Lydda; (4) Ramah, a short distance above Bethlehem; (5) the "Frank mountain," 3 miles south-east of Bethlehem, a site favored by Gesenius; (6) Ramet el-Khalil, a group of ruins a little north of Hebron, favored by Walcott and Van de Velde; (7) Rama, a village 3 1/2 miles west of Sanur, favored by Schwarze: (8) Ram-allah, 5 miles north of Neby-Samwil, favored by Ewald; (9) Seba, 6 miles west of Jerusalem, proposed by Robinson. In the seventeenth century Neby-Samwil was pointed out as the site of Ramathaim-zophim, which would connect it with this Ramah, but in the fourteenth century Ramathaim-zophim was shown at Ramleh. 3. A place on the border of Asher, probably not far from Tyre. Josh 19:29. Robinson places this Ramah at the modern village Rameh, about 13 miles south-east of Tyre, which the Pal. Memoirs call Ramin, and accept it as the site of Ramah. 4. A fortified place of Naphtali. Josh 19:36. It may be identical with the modern village of Rameh, 10 miles north-west of the Sea of Galilee and on the road to Akka. 5. A name for Ramoth-Gilead, which see. 2 Kgs 8:28-29. 6. A place mentioned in Neh 11:33 as reinhabited by Benjamites after their return from exile.

Bibliography Information
Schaff, Philip, Dr. "Biblical Definition for 'ramah' in Schaffs Bible Dictionary".
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