{
  "id": "dict_002352",
  "term": "Hamath-Zobah",
  "slug": "hamath-zobah",
  "letter": "H",
  "entry_type": "biblical_place_name",
  "entry_family": "theological_term",
  "depth_profile": "standard",
  "short_definition": "A biblical place-name for a northern region or territory associated with Hamath and Zobah, mentioned in connection with Solomon’s activity.",
  "simple_one_line": "Hamath-Zobah is a place-name for a northern territory linked to Hamath and Zobah in the Old Testament.",
  "tooltip_text": "A northern biblical region or district associated with Hamath and Zobah; mentioned in Solomon’s era.",
  "aliases": [],
  "scripture_references": [],
  "original_language_terms": [],
  "related_entries": [
    "Hamath",
    "Zobah",
    "Solomon",
    "David",
    "Tadmor"
  ],
  "see_also": [
    "Hamath",
    "Zobah",
    "2 Chronicles",
    "2 Samuel",
    "1 Chronicles"
  ],
  "lede_intro": "Hamath-Zobah is a biblical place-name referring to a northern territory connected with the kingdoms or regions of Hamath and Zobah. The Old Testament mentions it in connection with Solomon’s activity, though the exact geographic boundaries are not explained in detail.",
  "at_a_glance_definition": "Biblical place-name | A northern territory or district linked with Hamath and Zobah | Mentioned in Solomon’s reign",
  "at_a_glance_key_points": [
    "A geographic, not theological, headword",
    "Likely refers to a region associated with two northern powers: Hamath and Zobah",
    "The exact extent of the territory is not fully certain",
    "Appears in a context related to Solomon’s northern activity"
  ],
  "description_academic_short": "Hamath-Zobah is an Old Testament place-name that likely designates a northern territory associated with Hamath and Zobah. It appears in connection with Solomon and probably refers to a region or district under Israelite influence or control, though the precise boundaries are uncertain.",
  "description_academic_full": "Hamath-Zobah is a biblical geographic term most likely referring to a northern region associated with the larger areas or political entities known as Hamath and Zobah. The Old Testament uses the term in a context connected with Solomon, but it does not provide a formal explanation of its meaning or limits. Because of that, interpreters usually understand it as a district, border region, or territory linked to those northern kingdoms rather than as a city name. The safest reading is that it marks a real geographic area in the northern Levant that was relevant to Israel’s royal history during the united monarchy.",
  "background_biblical_context": "The name appears in a royal and territorial context during Solomon’s reign. It fits the broader biblical pattern of describing northern regions by combining well-known place or kingdom names, especially in narratives involving Israel’s expansion, administration, or building activity.",
  "background_historical_context": "Hamath and Zobah were significant northern Syrian-related powers in the Old Testament period. A combined designation such as Hamath-Zobah likely reflects changing control, a border district, or a region connected with both spheres. The term is geographically imprecise, so historical reconstructions remain cautious.",
  "background_jewish_ancient_context": "Ancient readers would have recognized Hamath and Zobah as established northern place-names tied to regional power and conflict. The combined form likely functioned as a practical territorial label rather than a technical cartographic term.",
  "key_texts_primary": [
    "2 Chronicles 8:3"
  ],
  "key_texts_secondary": [
    "2 Samuel 8:3-8",
    "1 Chronicles 18:3-8",
    "compare references to Hamath and Zobah in the Davidic and Solomonic narratives"
  ],
  "original_language_note": "The Hebrew form is a compound place-name built from Hamath and Zobah, indicating a territorial association rather than a distinct theological concept.",
  "theological_significance": "Hamath-Zobah has little direct theological teaching of its own, but it helps locate Israel’s history in real geography and shows the Lord’s providence over the expansion and administration of the kingdom during Solomon’s reign.",
  "philosophical_explanation": "As a place-name, Hamath-Zobah illustrates how biblical history is anchored in identifiable lands and political regions. Scripture often refers to such areas without defining them exhaustively, and readers should not demand more precision than the text provides.",
  "interpretive_cautions": "The exact boundaries and political status of Hamath-Zobah are uncertain. It should not be treated as a technical map label with fixed modern coordinates. The term is best read as a broad territorial designation within the northern biblical world.",
  "major_views_note": "Common views take Hamath-Zobah as either a combined district associated with Hamath and Zobah, a border region under shifting control, or a general territorial label used in royal administrative language. The biblical evidence favors a broad geographic understanding.",
  "doctrinal_boundaries": "This entry concerns biblical geography and history, not doctrine. It should not be used to build theological conclusions beyond the general reliability of Scripture’s historical references.",
  "practical_significance": "Hamath-Zobah reminds readers that the Bible is rooted in real places and real political history. It also encourages humility where Scripture gives a name but not a full geographic explanation.",
  "meta_description": "Hamath-Zobah is a biblical place-name for a northern territory associated with Hamath and Zobah, mentioned in Solomon’s reign.",
  "public_url": "/companion-bible-dictionary/hamath-zobah/",
  "json_url": "/companion-bible-dictionary/data/dictionary/hamath-zobah.json",
  "final_disposition": "PUBLISH_CANONICAL"
}