Bible Dictionary
Baalah
Baalah was the name of several places: a city in southern Judah, a city also called Kirjath-jearim, and a mountain or boundary feature of Judah.
Definition
Baalah was the name of several places. It referred to a city in the southern part of Judah, another city on Judah’s northern border also called Kirjath-jearim, and a mountain or boundary feature of Judah. The southern city was also called Balah and Bilhah.
Biblical Usage
Baalah appears in Judah’s territorial and boundary descriptions. The northern city is identified with Kirjath-jearim, while the southern city was later associated with the territory of Simeon.
Historical Background
The southern site is uncertain, though Khurbet Zebalah was proposed. The northern site has been identified with Kuriet-el-Enab or, by some, Erma. The mountain or boundary feature was placed between Shikkeron and Jabneel, though a reading involving a river was also proposed.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Mistress; city. (1.) A city in the south of Judah (Josh. 15:29), elsewhere called Balah (Josh. 19:3) and Bilhah (1 Chr. 4:29). Now Khurbet Zebalah. (2.) A city on the northern border of the tribe of Judah (Josh. 15:10), called also Kirjath-jearim, q.v. (15:9; 1 Chr. 13:6), now Kuriet-el-Enab, or as some think, ‘Erma. (3.) A mountain on the north-western boundary of Judah and Dan (Josh. 15:11).
Smith's Bible Dictionary
[Baal, NO. 2]
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>ba'-a-la ba`alah; ("possessor," "mistress "): Three occurrences of this name:</p><p>(1) = KIRIATH-JEARIM (which see) (Jos 15:9,10; 1Ch 13:6).</p><p>(2) A city in the Negeb of Judah (Jos 15:29). In Jos 19:3 Balah and in 1Ch 4:29 Bilhah; perhaps also Boaloth of Jos 15:24. The site is unknown; but see PEF, III, 26.</p><p>(3) Mount Baalah (Jos 15:11), a mountain ridge between Shikkeron (Ekron) and Jabnoel unless, as seems probable, the suggestion of M. Clermont-Ganneau (Rev. Crit, 1897, 902) is correct that for har ( = "mount"), we should read nahar ("river"). In this case the border in question would be the Nahr rubin. Here there is an annual feast held--attended by all classes and famous all over Syria--which appears to be a real survival of "Baal worship."</p><p>E. W. G. Masterman</p>