Kirjath

(a city), the last of the cities enumerated as belonging to the tribe of Benjamin, (Joshua 18:28) probably identical with the better-known place Kirjath-jearim.

City, a city belonging to Benjamin (Josh. 18:28), the modern Kuriet el-‘Enab, i.e., “city of grapes”, about 7 1/2 miles west-north-west of Jerusalem.

City of Arba, the original name of Hebron (q.v.), so called from the name of its founder, one of the Anakim (Gen. 23:2; 35:27; Josh. 15:13). It was given to Caleb by Joshua as his portion. The Jews interpret the name as meaning “the city of the four”, i.e., of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Adam, who were all, as they allege, buried there.

City of streets, Num. 22:39, a Moabite city, which some identify with Kirjathaim. Balak here received and entertained Balaam, whom he had invited from Pethor, among the “mountains of the east,” beyond the Euphrates, to lay his ban upon the Israelites, whose progress he had no hope otherwise of arresting. It was probably from the summit of Attarus, the high place near the city, that the soothsayer first saw the encampments of Israel.

City of jaars; i.e., of woods or forests, a Gibeonite town (Josh. 9:17) on the border of Benjamin, to which tribe it was assigned (18:15, 28). The ark was brought to this place (1 Sam. 7:1, 2) from Beth-shemesh and put in charge of Abinadab, a Levite. Here it remained till it was removed by David to Jerusalem (2 Sam. 6:2, 3, 12; 1 Chr. 15:1-29; comp. Ps. 132). It was also called Baalah (Josh. 15:9) and Kirjath-baal (60). It has been usually identified with Kuriet el-‘Enab (i.e., “city of grapes”), among the hills, about 8 miles north-east of ‘Ain Shems (i.e., Beth-shemesh). The opinion, however, that it is to be identified with ‘Erma, 4 miles east of ‘Ain Shems, on the edge of the valley of Sorek, seems to be better supported. (See KIRJATH.)

The words of Ps. 132:6, “We found it in the fields of the wood,” refer to the sojourn of the ark at Kirjath-jearim. “Wood” is here the rendering of the Hebrew word jaar, which is the singular of jearim.

City of the sannah; i.e., of the palm(?), Josh. 15:49; the same as Kirjath-sepher (15:16; Judg. 1:11) and Debir (q.v.), a Canaanitish royal city included in Judah (Josh. 10:38; 15:49), and probably the chief seat of learning among the Hittites. It was about 12 miles to the south-west of Hebron.

City of books, Josh. 15:15; same as Kirjath-sannah (q.v.), now represented by the valley of ed-Dhaberiyeh, south-west of Hebron. The name of this town is an evidence that the Canaanites were acquainted with writing and books. “The town probably contained a noted school, or was the site of an oracle and the residence of some learned priest.” The “books” were probably engraved stones or bricks.