Timnath-Heres

Tim´nath-He´res [TIMNATH-SERAH]

Tim’nath-he’res. (portion of the sun). The name under which the city, and burial-place, of Joshua, previously called, Timnath-serah, is mentioned in Jdg 2:9. See Timnath-serah.

("portion of the sun".) Joshua’s city and burial place, previously Timnath Serah, "portion of abundance" (Jdg 2:9), the consonants being transposed subsequently, to refer to Joshua’s miracle when the sun stood (Jos 19:50). In Mount Ephraim on the N. side of Mount Gaash. (See GAASH.) Jerome draws our admiration to the fact that "the distributor of possessions chose for himself a mountainous and rugged portion," noble disinterestedness. Christian tradition identifies Timnath Heres with Tibneh on the Roman road from Antipatris to Jerusalem. But Kefr Haris is the more probable site, nine miles S. of Nablus. The Samaritans make it the burial place of Joshua and of Caleb; there are two sacred spots E. of it: namely neby Kifl, "prophet of the division by lot," i.e. Joshua; and neby Culda, possibly a corruption of Caleb. The fact that the Jews venerate a place in Samaria as Joshua’s tomb is a presumption in favor of this site.

TIMNATH-HERES (in Jos 19:50; Jos 24:30 written Timnath-serah).—A place assigned to Joshua as an inheritance and burying-place (Jdg 2:9). It is described as being ‘In Mt. Ephraim, on the N. side of the Mountain of Gaash.’ See next article.

H. L. Willett.

tim-nath-hē´rēz, t.-hē´rez, (חרס תּמנת, timnath ḥereṣ, “portion of the sun”; Codex Vaticanus Θαμναθάρες, Thamnatháres; Codex Alexandrinus Θαμναθάρ; ἔως, Thamnathár; héōs): This is the form of the name given to Joshua’s property and place of burial in Jdg 2:9. The name in Jos 19:50; Jos 24:30 is Timnath-serah. “Serah” simply reverses the order of the letters in “Heres.” Scholars are divided in opinion as to which form is correct. It is possible that the change from Heres to Serah may have been deliberate, in order to avoid a form which might savor of idolatry - sun-worship. The Jews and Samaritans hold that Heres is the original form.