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Gaash

biblical_place_name theological_term standard

Gaash is a biblical place in the hill country of Ephraim, associated with the burial area of Joshua and mentioned again in connection with David’s mighty men.

At a Glance

A location in Ephraim, north of Timnath-serah, remembered chiefly because Joshua was buried near it.

Key Points

Description

Gaash is the name of a location in the hill country of Ephraim in the Old Testament. Scripture most clearly connects it with the burial site of Joshua, who was buried at Timnath-serah in the hill country of Ephraim, north of the mountain of Gaash (Josh. 24:30; Judg. 2:9). A related expression, often rendered as the ravines or brooks of Gaash, appears in material associated with David’s mighty men (2 Sam. 23:30; 1 Chr. 11:32), suggesting a nearby geographic feature or district. Gaash is therefore best understood as a biblical place-name used for historical and geographical reference, not as a theological term.

Biblical Context

Gaash appears in Old Testament passages that locate Joshua’s burial and refer to a related geographic feature in the same region. Its value is primarily historical and geographical, helping readers situate events in the tribal territory of Ephraim.

Historical Context

The name belongs to Israel’s settled geography in the land of Canaan. It likely identified a local hill, district, or ravine system in Ephraim, though the exact site is not securely identified today.

Jewish and Ancient Context

For ancient Israel, place-names such as Gaash anchored covenant history in real locations. The mention of Joshua’s burial near Gaash would have reinforced the memory of Israel’s conquest and settlement.

Primary Key Texts

Secondary Key Texts

Original Language Note

Hebrew place-name; the exact etymology is uncertain.

Theological Significance

Gaash has little direct doctrinal content, but it contributes to the Bible’s historical credibility by tying major events to identifiable places.

Philosophical Explanation

As a place-name, Gaash reminds readers that biblical revelation is rooted in real history and geography, not abstract ideas alone.

Interpretive Cautions

Do not treat Gaash as a theological term or build doctrine from it. The precise modern location is uncertain, and the expression “ravines/brooks of Gaash” is a geographic reference, not a separate doctrine or symbol.

Major Views

No major interpretive dispute affects the basic identity of Gaash as a place-name, though its exact location is debated.

Doctrinal Boundaries

Gaash should be read as historical geography, not as a doctrinal category or symbolic name with hidden theological meaning.

Practical Significance

Biblical place-names like Gaash help readers see that Scripture is rooted in concrete places, peoples, and events.

Related Entries

See Also

Data

Machine-readable JSON for Gaash

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