Bible Dictionary
Anathoth
Anathoth was a Levitical city in the territory of Benjamin and the hometown of the prophet Jeremiah. It was also associated with several of David’s mighty men and was resettled after the exile.
Definition
Anathoth was a Levitical or priests’ city in the territory of Benjamin. It was the native place of Abiathar, the prophet Jeremiah, and two of David’s distinguished soldiers, Abiezer and Jehu. The town was occupied again after the exile.
Biblical Usage
Anathoth is especially associated with Jeremiah, who lived there and purchased a field there. It was assigned to the Levites and later appears among the Benjaminite settlements restored after the exile.
Historical Background
Anathoth lay a few miles north or northeast of Jerusalem and is identified with the village of Anata. The area had ancient walls and quarries supplying stone for Jerusalem.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
The name of one of the cities of refuge, in the tribe of Benjamin (Josh. 21:18). The Jews, as a rule, did not change the names of the towns they found in Palestine; hence this town may be regarded as deriving its name from the goddess Anat. It was the native place of Abiezer, one of David’s “thirty” (2 Sam. 23:27), and of Jehu, another of his mighty men (1 Chr. 12:3). It is chiefly notable, however, as the birth-place and usual residence of Jeremiah (Jer. 1:1; 11:21-23; 29:27; 32:7-9). It suffered greatly from the army of Sennacherib, and only 128 men returned to it from the Exile (Neh. 7:27; Ezra 2:23). It lay about 3 miles north of Jerusalem. It has been identified with the small and poor village of ‘Anata, containing about 100 inhabitants.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
a priests’ city belonging to the tribe of Benjamin, with “suburbs.” (Joshua 21:18; 1 Chronicles 6:60) Anathoth lay about three miles from Jerusalem. (Isaiah 10:30) The cultivation of the priests survives in tilled fields of grain, with figs and olives. There are the remains of walls and strong foundations, and the quarries still supply Jerusalem with building stones. (answers to prayer).
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>an'-a-thoth (`anathoth; Anathoth): A town which lay between Michmash and Jerusalem (Isa 10:30), in the territory of Benjamin, assigned to the Levites (Jos 21:18). It was the native place of Abiathar (1Ki 2:26), and of the prophet Jer (Jer 1:1; 11:21 ff, etc.). Here lay the field which, under remarkable circumstances, the prophet purchased (Jer 32:7 ff). Two of David's distinguished soldiers, Abiezer (2Sa 23:27) and Jehu (1Ch 12:3), also hailed from Anathoth. It was again occupied by the Benjamites after the return from the Exile (Ne 11:32, etc.). It is identified with `Anata, two and a quarter miles Northeast of Jerusalem, a small village of some fifteen houses with remains of ancient walls. There are quarries in the neighborhood from which stones are still carried to Jerusalem. It commands a spacious outlook over the uplands to the North, and especially to the Southeast, over the Jordan valley toward the Dead Sea and the mountains of Moab. There is nothing to shelter it from the withering power of the winds from the eastern deserts (Jer 4:11; 18:17, etc.).</p><p>W. Ewing</p>