Ramah was a town in the territory of Benjamin, often associated with significant events in Israel's history, such as the mourning of Rachel and the imprisonment of Jeremiah.
Also known as Ramath,Rama
Ramah was a town located in the tribal territory of Benjamin, near Gibeah and Jerusalem. It is mentioned several times in the Bible in connection with various events and prophecies. During the period of the judges, Deborah, a prophetess and judge, held court between Ramah and Bethel (Judg. 4:5). In the story of the Levite and his concubine, the Levite planned to spend the night in Ramah before the tragic events in Gibeah (Judg. 19:13). Later, during the reign of King Baasha of Israel, he fortified Ramah to prevent people from going to or coming from Judah (1Kgs. 15:17, 21-22; 2Chr. 16:1, 5-6). The town was also mentioned in the context of the return of the exiles from Babylon (Ezra 2:26; Neh. 7:30) and as one of the settlements where the Benjamites lived after the exile (Neh. 11:33). The prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Hosea mentioned Ramah in their prophecies, often in connection with judgment or mourning (Isa. 10:29; Jer. 31:15; 40:1; Hos. 5:8). In the New Testament, Matthew's Gospel quotes Jeremiah's prophecy about Rachel weeping for her children in Ramah, applying it to Herod's massacre of the infants in Bethlehem (Matt. 2:18). The frequent mention of Ramah in various contexts highlights its importance as a town in the territory of Benjamin and its association with significant events in Israel's history.
Approximate location: 31.896, 35.202 · view on a map · on the Bible atlas
18 verses in 10 books · English text: BSB (change it from the menu at the top) · Strong’s H7414
Gibeon, Ramah, Beeroth,
and all the villages surrounding these cities as far as Baalath-beer (Ramah of the Negev). This was the inheritance of the clans of the tribe of Simeon.
And she would sit under the Palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, where the Israelites would go up to her for judgment.
He continued, “Come, let us try to reach one of these towns to spend the night in Gibeah or Ramah.”
Baasha king of Israel went to war against Judah and fortified Ramah to prevent anyone from leaving or entering the territory of Asa king of Judah.
When Baasha learned of this, he stopped fortifying Ramah and withdrew to Tirzah.
Then King Asa summoned all the men of Judah, with no exceptions, and they carried away the stones of Ramah and the timbers Baasha had used for building. And with these materials King Asa built up Geba of Benjamin, as well as Mizpah.
In the thirty-sixth year of Asaʼs reign, Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah and fortified Ramah to prevent anyone from leaving or entering the territory of Asa king of Judah.
When Baasha learned of this, he stopped fortifying Ramah and abandoned his work.
Then King Asa brought all the men of Judah, and they carried away the stones of Ramah and the timbers Baasha had used for building. And with these materials he built up Geba and Mizpah.
the men of Ramah and Geba, 621;
the men of Ramah and Geba, 621;
Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim,
They have crossed at the ford: “We will spend the night at Geba.” Ramah trembles; Gibeah of Saul flees.
This is what the LORD says: “A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children, and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”
This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD after Nebuzaradan captain of the guard had released him at Ramah, having found him bound in chains among all the captives of Jerusalem and Judah who were being exiled to Babylon.
Blow the ramʼs horn in Gibeah, the trumpet in Ramah; raise the battle cry in Beth-aven: Lead on, O Benjamin!
“A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”
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.