Kiriath-jearim, a city where the ark of the covenant resided for 20 years (1Sa.7.1-2).
Also known as Kiriath Jearim · Kirjath-jearim · Kiriath-arim · Kirjath-arim · Kiriath · Kirjath · Kiriath-baal · Kirjath-baal · Kiriath Baal · Baalah · Baale-judah · Baalah in Judah · Baale of Judah · Jaar · wood
Kiriath-jearim, also referred to as Kiriath-arim, Kiriath-baal, Baalah, Baale-judah, or Jaar, was a city located on the border between the tribes of Judah and Benjamin (Joshua 15:9, 18:14-15). It was one of the four Gibeonite cities that deceived Joshua into making a treaty with them (Joshua 9:17). The ark of the covenant was brought to Kiriath-jearim after being returned by the Philistines and remained there for 20 years (1Sa.6.21, 7:1-2). David later retrieved the ark from Kiriath-jearim to bring it to Jerusalem (1Ch.13.5-6, 2Ch.1.4). The city was also the hometown of the prophet Uriah (Jeremiah 26:20). Kiriath-jearim was resettled by the descendants of Judah after the Babylonian exile (Nehemiah 7:29, Ezra 2:25).
Approximate location: 31.771, 34.994 · view on a map · on the Bible atlas
22 verses in 10 books · English text: BSB (change it from the menu at the top) · Strong’s H7157
So the Israelites set out and on the third day arrived at their cities—Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim.
From the hilltop the border curved to the spring of the Waters of Nephtoah, proceeded to the cities of Mount Ephron, and then bent around toward Baalah (that is, Kiriath-jearim).
The border curled westward from Baalah to Mount Seir, ran along the northern slope of Mount Jearim (that is, Chesalon), went down to Beth-shemesh, and crossed to Timnah.
Kiriath-baal (that is, Kiriath-jearim), and Rabbah—two cities, along with their villages.
On the west side the border curved southward from the hill facing Beth-horon on the south and came out at Kiriath-baal (that is, Kiriath-jearim), a city of the sons of Judah. This was the western side.
On the south side the border began at the outskirts of Kiriath-jearim and extended westward to the spring at the Waters of Nephtoah.
Zelah, Haeleph, Jebus (that is, Jerusalem), Gibeah, and Kiriath-jearim—fourteen cities, along with their villages. This was the inheritance of the clans of the tribe of Benjamin.
They went up and camped at Kiriath-jearim in Judah. That is why the place west of Kiriath-jearim is called Mahaneh-dan to this day.
So they sent messengers to the people of Kiriath-jearim, saying, “The Philistines have returned the ark of the LORD. Come down and take it up with you.”
Then the men of Kiriath-jearim came for the ark of the LORD and took it into Abinadabʼs house on the hill. And they consecrated his son Eleazar to guard the ark of the LORD.
And from that day a long time passed, twenty years in all, as the ark remained at Kiriath-jearim. And all the house of Israel mournfully sought the LORD.
And he and all his troops set out for Baale of Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the Name— the name of the LORD of Hosts, who is enthroned between the cherubim that are on it.
These were the descendants of Caleb. The sons of Hur the firstborn of Ephrathah: Shobal the father of Kiriath-jearim,
These were the descendants of Shobal the father of Kiriath-jearim: Haroeh, half the Manahathites,
and the clans of Kiriath-jearim—the Ithrites, Puthites, Shumathites, and Mishraites. From these descended the Zorathites and Eshtaolites.
So David assembled all Israel, from the River Shihor in Egypt to Lebo-hamath, to bring the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim.
David and all Israel went up to Baalah of Judah (that is, Kiriath-jearim) to bring up from there the ark of God the LORD, who is enthroned between the cherubim—the ark that is called by the Name.
Now David had brought the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim to the place he had prepared for it, because he had pitched a tent for it in Jerusalem.
the men of Kiriath-jearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, 743;
the men of Kiriath-jearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, 743;
We heard that the ark was in Ephrathah; we found it in the fields of Jaar.
Now there was another man prophesying in the name of the LORD, Uriah son of Shemaiah from Kiriath-jearim. He prophesied against this city and against this land the same things that Jeremiah did.
Names, family links and references: STEPBible TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Short descriptions were drafted with AI assistance by STEPBible. Family links follow STEPBible’s scholarly decisions where genealogies are ambiguous.