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Pirathon

biblical_place theological_term standard

Pirathon was a town in the hill country of Ephraim, known as the home of Abdon the judge and Benaiah the Pirathonite, one of David’s mighty men.

At a Glance

Biblical town in Ephraim’s hill country

Key Points

Description

Pirathon is a place-name in the Old Testament, identified as a town in the hill country of Ephraim. It is chiefly remembered as the hometown of Abdon, who judged Israel after Ibzan and Elon, and it is also associated with Benaiah the Pirathonite in David’s list of mighty men. The Bible’s references present Pirathon as an actual Israelite settlement rather than a theological concept. The precise archaeological identification of the site is uncertain, but the biblical data are clear enough to locate it generally within Ephraim’s hill country.

Biblical Context

Judges 12 records Abdon’s sons and grandsons and identifies him as a Pirathonite, linking Pirathon to the period of the judges. In the historical books, Benaiah the Pirathonite appears in the lists of David’s mighty men, showing that the name was remembered in Israel’s later monarchy as a place of origin.

Historical Context

Pirathon appears to have been a settlement in the central hill country of Israel, within the broader tribal territory of Ephraim. Its exact location has not been securely identified, so cautious language is appropriate when discussing archaeology or mapping.

Jewish and Ancient Context

Ancient readers would have recognized Pirathon as a local Israelite place-name tied to a family or clan origin. The biblical text preserves it as a historical marker rather than as a symbolic or theological term.

Primary Key Texts

Secondary Key Texts

Original Language Note

The Hebrew form is פִּרְעָתוֹן (Pirʿathon / Pirathon), a proper place-name.

Theological Significance

Pirathon itself carries no major doctrinal theme, but it illustrates the Bible’s rootedness in real geography and historical memory. The mention of a specific hometown also helps anchor the narratives of the judges and David’s warriors in concrete places.

Philosophical Explanation

As a place-name, Pirathon is important because Scripture regularly connects theological events to actual locations and historical persons. This supports the Bible’s claim to be recounting real history, not abstract religious myth.

Interpretive Cautions

Do not overstate certainty about the site’s modern identification. The biblical references are clear, but archaeology has not fixed the exact location beyond doubt.

Major Views

Interpreters generally agree that Pirathon is a literal town-name. Discussion usually concerns its precise location, not its meaning or existence.

Doctrinal Boundaries

Pirathon should be treated as a geographical entry, not as a theological doctrine or symbol. Claims beyond the biblical references should remain tentative.

Practical Significance

Pirathon reminds Bible readers that even brief place-names in Scripture often preserve important historical context. It also encourages careful attention to the geography behind biblical events.

Related Entries

See Also

Data

Machine-readable JSON for Pirathon

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