Prior to Israel’s conquest of Canaan, the inhabitants of Kiriath-jearim were known as Gibeonites, after the name of a more important town in the region (Joshua 9:3; Joshua 9:17; see GIBEON). Kiriath-jearim was on the border between Benjamin and Judah, and was known also as Kiriath-baal, Baalah, Baale-judah and Kiriath-arim (Joshua 15:9; Joshua 15:60; Joshua 18:14; Joshua 18:21-28; 2 Samuel 6:2; Ezra 2:25). It is chiefly remembered because during the time of Saul and David the ark of the covenant rested there for twenty years (1 Samuel 7:1-2; 2 Samuel 6:2; for maps see BENJAMIN; JUDAH, TRIBE AND KINGDOM).

(kihr' i ath-jeh' a rim) Place name meaning, “city of forests.” Kiriath-Jearim was located at modern Abu Gosh nine miles north of Jerusalem. It was on the border where Dan, Benjamin, and Judah joined before Dan began their migration northward (Joshua 15:9 ,Joshua 15:9,15:60 ; Joshua 18:14-15 ). Dan's army camped there in their search for new territory (Judges 18:12 ). After the Philistines returned the ark of the covenant, it was kept at Kiriath-Jearim for a time (1 Samuel 6:21-7:2 ). David attempted to move the ark to Jerusalem from there, but because he did so improperly, God struck down Uzzah (2 Samuel 6:1-8 ). Among Kiriath-Jearim's sons was Uriah, a faithful prophet and contemporary of Jeremiah. He was executed for prophesying against the king (Jeremiah 26:20-24 ).

The Romans built a fort over the ancient ruins to guard the main route from Jerusalem to the Mediterranean Sea. A garrison from the Tenth Legion was stationed there.

Kiriath-Jearim is identified with Deir al-Azhar near the modern village of Qaryet el-Inab or Abu Gosh.

KIRIATH-JEARIM (‘city of forests’). One of the cities of the Gibeonites ( Joshua 9:17 ), occupied by the Danites ( Judges 18:12 ), on the border between Judah and Benjamin ( Joshua 15:9 ; Joshua 18:14 ). From there David brought up the ark ( 2 Samuel 6:2 , 1 Chronicles 13:5 , 2 Chronicles 1:4 ). Its older name appears to have been Kiriath-baal ( Joshua 15:60 ) or Baalah . ( Joshua 15:9-10 , 1 Chronicles 13:6 ). It is also mentioned as Baale Judah ( 2 Samuel 6:2 ), and through a textual error as Kiriath-arim ( Ezra 2:25 ; cf. Nehemiah 7:29 ). It was probably, like Kedesh, Gezer, etc., an old Canaanite ‘high place.’ In Jeremiah 26:20 it is mentioned as the home of Uriah the prophet, the son of Shemaiah. See also 1 Chronicles 2:50 ; 1 Chronicles 2:53 and 1Es 5:19 [in this last passage it is called Kariathiarius ]. The site of this important ancient sanctuary and frontier town has been very generally accepted, since the 5th cent. a.d., as close to that of the modern Kuriet el-‘Enab , a flourishing little village on the high-road from Jaffa to Jerusalem, about 9 miles from the latter. The ancient remains are to the W. of the village, but a handsome Crusading Church in the village itself has recently been restored. Kuriet el-‘Enab is generally known as Abu Ghosh , after a family of semi-hrigands of that name who established themselves there nearly a century ago, and for long held the whole surrounding country at their mercy. Another site, which has been powerfully advocated by Conder, is Khurbet ‘Erma , on the S. of the Vale of Sorek, just where the narrow valley opens into the plain. The similarity of ‘arim ( Ezra 2:25 ) and ‘erma , and the nearness of the site to Zorah and Eshtaol, are in its favour. There, too, are ancient remains, and a great rock platform which would appear to mark an ancient ‘high place.’ On the other hand, it is far from the other cities of the Gibeonltes ( Joshua 9:17 ). The question cannot he considered as settled.

E. W. G. Masterman.