חֲמָת

חֲמָת, חֲמַת proper name, of a location (√ dubious; Thes MV and others derive from חָמָה, חֲמָת = fortress, or (see RS^{Semitic i, 140}), sacred enclosure, temenos, µim¹, compare Hal^{JAS 7 ème Sér. x, 392}, Lag^{BN 82, 156}; but no certainty that name is Shemitic; Arabic , Assyrian Amattu, Dl^{PA 275 ff.}Prov 174); — modern „amaâ, on el-±A±ƒi (Orontes), 38 hours (approximately 115 miles) north of Damascus, see Bd^{Pal 398 f.} It had a king, תֹּעִי, in David's time 2 Sam 8,9 = 1 Kron 18,9, and in 8th cent. B.C. 2 Kong 19,13 = Es 37,13 gods of its own 2 Kong 17,30; 2 Kong 18,34 = Es 36,19 gave its name to land (limits unknown) ׳רִבְלָה בְּאֶרֶץ ח 2 Kong 23,33; 2 Kong 25,21; Jer 39,5; Jer 52,9; Jer 52,27, compare 2 Kron 8,4 contained Israel exiles Es 11,11 furnished colonists for Samaria 2 Kong 17,24 (compare v2 Kong 17,30 above) after being conquered by Sargon, (COT 2 Kong 17,24; 2 Kong 18,34 compare Es 10,9). It is called great Hamath by Amos 6,2 (חֲמַת רַבָּה, חֲמַת֯ only here). ׳ח is mentioned with דַּמֶּשֶׂק, צֹר, צִידוֺן in prophecy against land Hadrach (חַדְרָךְ) Zak 9,2, compare Jer 49,23. Often in phrase ׳(עַדֿ) לְבאֹ ח = the entrance to H., i.e. the approach to H., as territorial limit Dom 3,3 usually as denoting (ideal) northern limit of Israel territory Jos 13,5; 4 Mos 13,21; 4 Mos 34,8; Amos 6,14; 1 Kong 8,65 = 2 Kron 7,8; 2 Kong 14,25; 1 Kron 13,5 חֲמָ֑תָה 1 Kron 18,3 צובָה ׳ח 2 Kron 8,3, and הֵשִׁיב לִיחוּדָה ׳אֶתדַּֿמֶּשֶׂק וְאֶתחֿ 2 Kong 14,28 so also Ezk 47,48: ׳גְּבוּל ח Ezk 47,17, compare V:16 b + V:16 a (strike out Co); ׳לְבוֺא ח Ezk 48,1, compare Ezk 47,20 ׳אֶליַֿד ח Ezk 48,1.