Amam
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Topical Encyclopedia
Amam is a location mentioned in the Old Testament, specifically within the context of the tribal allotments in the Book of Joshua. It is one of the towns listed in the inheritance of the tribe of Judah. The reference to Amam can be found in Joshua 15:26, where it is included among the cities in the southern part of Judah's territory. The Berean Standard Bible renders this verse as follows:

"Amam, Shema, Moladah," (Joshua 15:26).

Geographical Context

Amam is situated in the Negev, the arid southern region of ancient Israel. The Negev was a significant area for the tribe of Judah, providing a buffer zone against the desert and serving as a frontier for the Israelites. The exact location of Amam is not definitively known today, and it is not prominently featured in other biblical narratives or archaeological findings. However, its inclusion in the list of cities in Joshua underscores its role as part of the territorial organization of the tribes of Israel.

Historical and Cultural Significance

The mention of Amam, though brief, contributes to the broader understanding of the settlement patterns and territorial divisions among the tribes of Israel following their conquest of Canaan. The allocation of land to the tribes, as described in the Book of Joshua, reflects the fulfillment of God's promises to the patriarchs regarding the land of Canaan. Each city and town, including Amam, represents a piece of the divine inheritance given to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Theological Implications

From a theological perspective, the listing of cities like Amam in the tribal allotments serves as a testament to God's faithfulness in delivering the Promised Land to the Israelites. It also highlights the importance of land in the covenant relationship between God and His people. The division of the land among the tribes was not merely a practical matter but a spiritual one, symbolizing the establishment of Israel as a nation under God's sovereignty.

Biblical Cross-References

While Amam itself is not mentioned elsewhere in the Bible, its inclusion in the list of cities in Joshua 15:26 can be cross-referenced with other passages that discuss the tribal inheritances, such as Joshua 13-21. These chapters provide a detailed account of the land distribution among the tribes, emphasizing the fulfillment of God's promises and the establishment of Israel in the land of Canaan.

Conclusion

Amam, though a minor location in the biblical narrative, plays a part in the larger account of Israel's settlement in the Promised Land. Its mention in the Book of Joshua serves as a reminder of the historical and theological significance of the land allocations to the tribes of Israel.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
Amam

(gathering place), a city in the south of Judah named with Shema and Moladah in (Joshua 15:26) only.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
AMAM

a'-mam ('amam): A town in southern Palestine, which fell to Judah In the allotment of the land; occurs only in Joshua 15:26.

Strong's Hebrew
538. Amam -- a place in S. Judah
... 537, 538. Amam. 539 . a place in S. Judah. Transliteration: Amam Phonetic
Spelling: (am-awm') Short Definition: Amam. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/538.htm - 6k

6004. amam -- to darken, dim
... 6003, 6004. amam. 6005 . to darken, dim. Transliteration: amam Phonetic Spelling:
(aw-mam') Short Definition: match. ... 6003, 6004. amam. 6005 . ...
/hebrew/6004.htm - 6k

5973. im -- with
... From amam; adverb or preposition, with (ie In conjunction with), in varied applications;
specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix (and then ...
/hebrew/5973.htm - 6k

5971. am -- people
... From amam; a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of
Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock ...
/hebrew/5971.htm - 5k

5980. ummah -- close by, side by side with
... From amam; conjunction, ie Society; mostly adverb or preposition (with prepositional
prefix), near, beside, along with -- (over) against, at, beside, hard by ...
/hebrew/5980.htm - 6k

Thesaurus
Amam (1 Occurrence)
...AMAM. a'-mam ('amam): A town in southern Palestine, which fell to Judah In the
allotment of the land; occurs only in Joshua 15:26. ...Amam (1 Occurrence). ...
/a/amam.htm - 6k

Amal'ekites (24 Occurrences)
Amal'ekites. Amalekites, Amal'ekites. Amam . Multi-Version Concordance ... (See
RSV). Amalekites, Amal'ekites. Amam . Reference Bible.
/a/amal'ekites.htm - 13k

Moladah (4 Occurrences)
... EWG Masterman. Multi-Version Concordance Moladah (4 Occurrences). Joshua 15:26
Amam, Shema, Moladah, (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE WBS YLT NAS NIV). ...
/m/moladah.htm - 8k

Molada (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Molada (1 Occurrence). Joshua 15:26 Amam, Shema,
Moladah, (Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV). ...
/m/molada.htm - 6k

Mola'dah (4 Occurrences)
Mola'dah. Moladah, Mola'dah. Mold . Multi-Version Concordance Mola'dah (4
Occurrences). Joshua 15:26 Amam, and Shema, and Moladah; (See RSV). ...
/m/mola'dah.htm - 7k

Aman (1 Occurrence)

/a/aman.htm - 7k

Shema (7 Occurrences)
... Horace J. Wolf. Multi-Version Concordance Shema (7 Occurrences). Joshua 15:26 Amam,
Shema, Moladah, (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). ...
/s/shema.htm - 10k

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