Zemaraim

Zemara’im. (double fleece of wool). A town in the allotment of Benjamin, Jos 18:22, perhaps identical with Mount Zemaraim, mentioned in 2Ch 13:4 only, which was "in Mount Ephraim," that is to say, within the general district of the highlands of that great tribe. 2Ch 13:4.

A town of Benjamin’s allotment (Jos 18:22); the name appears now in Khirbet el Szomra (Seetzen), four miles N. of Jericho, or es Sumrah (Robinson). Also a MOUNT on which the prophet Abijah stood in addressing Jeroboam (2Ch 13:4); in the hilly part of Ephraim, extending into Benjamin’s territory. Both town and mount are memorials of the former presence of the Zemarites.

[Zemara’im]

City in Benjamin. Jos 18:22: Identified with ruins at es Sumrah, 31° 55’ N, 35° 29’ E.

ZEMARAIM.—A city of Benjamin, apparently in the vicinity of Bethel (Jos 18:22). It proh. gave its name to Mt. Zemaraim, in the hill-country of Ephraim (2Ch 13:4). It is generally identified with es-Sumra to the north of Jericho.

zem-a-rā´im (צמרים, c^emārayim; Codex Vaticanus Σαρά, Sará; Codex Alexandrinus Σεμρίμ, Semrı́m): A city in the territory of Benjamin. It is named between Betharabah and Bethel (Jos 18:22), and is probably to be sought East of the latter city. It is usual to identify it with es-Samra, a ruin about 4 miles North of Jericho. Mt. Zemaraim probably derived its name from the city, and must be sought in the neighborhood. On this height, which is said to be in Mt. Ephraim, Abijah, king of Judah, stood when making his appeal to the men of Israel under Jeroboam (2Ch 13:4). If the identification with es-Samra is correct, this hill must be in the uplands to the West, es-Samra being on the floor of the valley. Dillmann (Joshua, at the place) thinks Zemaraim cannot be so far East of Bethel, but may be found somewhere to the South of that town.