In connection with the northern boundary of Israel, “the entering in of Hamath” is frequently mentioned (Nu 13:21; 1 Ki 8:65, etc., the American Standard Revised Version “entrance”). It has been sought in the Orontes valley, between Antioch and Seleucia, and also at Wady Nahr el-Barid, leading down from Homs to the Mediterranean to the North of Tripoli. But from the point of view of Palestine, it must mean some part of the great valley of Coele-Syria (Biqa’a). It seems that instead of translating, we should read here a place-name — “Libo of Hamath” — and the presence of the ancient site of Libo (modern Leboue) 14 miles North-Northeast of Baalbek, at the head-waters of the Orontes, commanding the strategical point where the plain broadens out to the North and to the South, confirms us in this conjecture.
W. M. Christie HAMATH-ZOBAH
<ha’-math-zo’-ba> ([hb;wOx tm”j}, chamath tsobhah]; [Baiswba>, Baisoba]) : Mentioned only in 2 Ch 8:3. Apart from Great Hamath no site answering to this name is known. It does not seem to be implied that Solomon took possession of Hamath itself, but rather that he “confirmed”
his dominion over parts of the kingdom of Zobah, which on its fall may have been annexed by Hamath. The Septuagint’s Codex Vaticanus suggests a reading — Bethzobah — omitting all reference to Hamath. On the other hand, the geographical distinctions between Zobah and Hamath having passed away long before Chronicles was written, the double name may have been used to indicate generally the extent of Solomon’s
conquests, as also to avoid confusion with the Zobah in the Hauran (2 Sam 23:36).
W. M. Christie HAMMATH
<ham’-ath> ([tM;j”, chammath], “hot spring”):
(1) “The father of the house of Rechab” (1 Ch 2:55).
(2) One of the fenced cities of Naphtali, named with Zer, Rakkath and Chinnereth (Josh 19:35). It is doubtless identical with Emmaus mentioned by Josephus (Ant., XVIII, ii, 3; BJ, IV, i, 3) as near Tiberias, on the shore of the lake of Gennesareth. It is represented by the modern el-Chammam, nearly 2 miles South of Tiberias. It was, of course, much nearer the ancient Tiberias, which lay South of the present city. The hot baths here, “useful for healing,” in the time of Josephus, have maintained their reputation. In recent years, indeed, there has been a marked increase in the number of sick persons from all parts who visit the baths. The waters are esteemed specially valuable for rheumatism and skin troubles. In the large public bath the water has a temperature of over 140 degree Fahr. Parts of the ancient fortification still cling to the mountain side above the baths; and the remains of an aqueduct which brought fresh water from sources in the Southwest may be traced along the face of the slopes. Hammath is identical with Hammon (1 Ch 6:76); and probably also with Hammoth-dor (Josh 21:32).
W. Ewing HAMMEAH, THE TOWER OF
<ha-me’-a>, <ham’-e-a> ([ha;Meh”, ha-me’ah] (Neh 3:1); the King James Version Meah): The origin of the name is obscure; in the margin the meaning is given “Tower of the hundred”; it has been suggested that it may have been 100 cubits high or had 100 steps. It was the most important point on the walls of Jerusalem in going West from the Sheep Gate, and is mentioned along with the T. of HANANEL (which see) (Neh 3:1), and was therefore near the Northeast corner, and probably stood where the Baris and Antonia afterward were, near the Northwest corner of the charam where are today the Turkish barracks.
See JERUSALEM.
E. W. G. Masterman HAMMEDATHA
<ham-e-da’-tha> ([at;d;M]h”, hammedhatha’]): The father of Haman (Est 3:1). He is generally termed the “Agagite”; the name is of Persian etymology, signifying “given by the moon.”
HAMMELECH
<ham’-e-lek> ([Ël,M,h”, ha-melekh], “the king”): Wrongly translated as a proper name in the King James Version. It should be rendered “the king,”
as in the American Standard Revised Version (Jer 36:26; 38:6).
HAMMER
<ham’-er>: The Hebrew [tb,Q,m”, maqqebheth], occurs in Jdg 4:21, where it refers to the mallet (probably wooden) used to drive tent-pins into the ground. The same word occurs in 1 Ki 6:7; Isa 44:12; Jer 10:4 as applied to a workman’s hammer. [vyFiP”, paTTish] (compare Arabic, fatis), occurs in Isa 41:7; Jer 23:29; 50:23. It was probably a blacksmith’s hammer or heavy hammer used for breaking rock. There is doubt about the rendering of Jdg 5:26, where the word, [tWml]h”, halmuth], occurs.
From the context, the instrument mentioned was probably not a hammer.
In Ps 74:6, [tl;yKe, kelaph], is better translated “axes,” not “hammers.”
See TOOLS.
James A. Patch HAMMIPHKAD, GATE OF
<ha-mif’-kad> ([r[“v” dq;p]Mih”, sha`ar ha-miphqadh], “Gate of the Muster”): One of the gates of Jerusalem (Neh 3:31) not mentioned
elsewhere; probably situated near the Northeast corner of the Temple area.
HAMMOLECHETH
<ha-mol’-e-keth> ([tk,l,Moh”, hamolekheth], “the queen”; Septuagint [Male>ceq, Malecheth]; the King James Version Hammoleketh): The daughter of Machir and sister of Gilead (1 Ch 7:18).
HAMMON
<ham’-on> ([ˆwOMj”, chammon], “glowing”):
(1) A place on the seaward frontier of Asher, named with Rehob and Kanah (Josh 19:28), to be sought, therefore, not far from Tyre. The most probable identification so far suggested is with Umm el’Amud, “mother of
the column” (or `Awamid, “columns”), at the mouth of Wady Chamul, on the shore, about 10 miles South of Tyre. An inscription found by Renan shows that the place was associated with the worship of Ba`al Chamman (CIS, I, 8).
(2) A city in Naphtali, given to the Gershonite Levites (1 Ch 6:76). It is identical with Hammath (Josh 19:35), and probably also with Hammoth- dor (Josh 21:32).
W. Ewing HAMMOTH-DOR
<ham-oth-dor’> ([raDo tMoj”, chammoth do’r]; [ jEmaqdw>r, Emathdor], as also several corrupt forms): A fenced, Levitical city of Naphtali (Josh 19:35; 21:32); also named Hammen (1 Ch 6:61 Hebrew).
Probably the hammatu of the Karnak lists, and the hamatam of WAI, II, 53; certainly the Emmaus of Josephus, Ant, XVIII, ii, 3; BJ, IV, i, 3;
Hamata of `Erubhin v. 5; Meghillah 2b, and the modern el-Hammam, 1 1/2 miles South of Tiberias. The name signifies “hot springs,” and these, 4 in number, still exist. They have a temperature of 144 degree F., are salt and bitter in taste and sulfurous in smell. Considered invaluable for rheumatism, they are crowded in June and July. This health-giving reputation is of ancient date. It is mentioned in Josephus, BJ, IV, i, 3; and a coin of Tiberias of the reign of Trajan depicts Hygeia sitting on a rock beside the springs, feeding the serpent of Aesculapius. Being used for pleasure also, they were permitted to the Jew on the Sabbath, whereas had they been used only medicinally, they would have been forbidden (Babylonian Talmud, Shab 109a; compare Mt 12:10).
W. M. Christie HAMMUEL
<ham’-u-el> ([laeWMj”, chammu’el], “wrath of God”): A son of Mishma, a Simeonite, of the family of Shaul (1 Ch 4:26).
HAMMURABI
<cham-oo-ra’-be>:
1. ETYMOLOGY OF HIS NAME WITH REFERENCE TO