Hammath
“Warm springs or hot baths”
Summary
Hammath was a fortified city of Naphtali, famous for its hot springs, located near Tiberias on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee.
☩Location and Name
Hammath, meaning "warm springs," was one of the fortified cities of Naphtali, mentioned between Zer and Rakkath. It is identified with the hot springs on the shore about a mile south of Tiberias, still known as Hammam Tubariyeh ("Bath of Tiberias"). Josephus refers to it as Ammaus, describing warm baths near Tiberias. Pliny also mentions the hot springs on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee.
☩The Hot Springs
The springs have a temperature of about 144° Fahrenheit, with an extremely salt and bitter taste and strong sulfur smell. The surrounding district has a volcanic character with rocks of trap and lava, and frequent earthquakes prove that geological forces remain active beneath the surface. Three smaller warm springs exist nearby. The site contains extensive ancient ruins along the shore. Hammoth-dor in Joshua 21:32 and Hammon in 1 Chronicles 6:76 are probably the same location under variant names.
Related Verses1 mention
Joshua· 1 verse
See Also
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Hammath," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. IV (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.George Morrish, "Hammath," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).
- 3.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Hammath," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).
- 4.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Hammath," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).