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 2Sam 8:9 = 1Chr 18:9, and in 8th cent. B.C. 2Kgs 19:13 = Isa 37:13 gods of its own 2Kgs 17:30; 2Kgs 18:34 = Isa 36:19 gave its name to land (limits unknown) ׳רִבְלָה בְּאֶרֶץ ח 2Kgs 23:33; 2Kgs 25:21; Jer 39:5; Jer 52:9; Jer 52:27, compare 2Chr 8:4 contained Israel exiles Isa 11:11 furnished colonists for Samaria 2Kgs 17:24 (compare v2Kgs 17:30 above) after being conquered by Sargon, (COT 2Kgs 17:24; 2Kgs 18:34 compare Isa 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) Zech 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 Judg 3:3 usually as denoting (ideal) northern limit of Israel territory Josh 13:5; Num 13:21; Num 34:8; Amos 6:14; 1Kgs 8:65 = 2Chr 7:8; 2Kgs 14:25; 1Chr 13:5 חֲמָ֑תָה 1Chr 18:3 צובָה ׳ח 2Chr 8:3, and הֵשִׁיב לִיחוּדָה ׳אֶתדַּֿמֶּשֶׂק וְאֶתחֿ 2Kgs 14:28 so also Ezek 47:48: ׳גְּבוּל ח Ezek 47:17, compare V:16 b + V:16 a (strike out Co); ׳לְבוֺא ח Ezek 48:1, compare Ezek 47:20 ׳אֶליַֿד ח Ezek 48:1.