Kirjathaim

Kirjathaim (UPDV: Kiriathaim) is the name borne by two distinct Old Testament towns. The first is a Reubenite settlement east of the Jordan, on the Moabite plateau, that later passed back into Moabite hands and drew the prophets' word of judgment. The second is a Levitical town in the territory of Naphtali, given to the Gershonite Levites for pasture.

A City Built by the Sons of Reuben

When the trans-Jordan was divided, Kirjathaim was among the towns the sons of Reuben rebuilt and settled: "And the sons of Reuben built Heshbon, and Elealeh, and Kiriathaim" (Nu 32:37). Joshua's allotment confirms its place in the Reubenite inheritance, listed beside Sibmah and Zereth-shahar: "and Kiriathaim, and Sibmah, and Zereth-shahar in the mount of the valley" (Jos 13:19).

Reckoned Among the Cities of Moab

By the era of the writing prophets the town is no longer in Israelite hands but is counted among the strongholds of Moab, and so it falls under the same oracles of judgment. Jeremiah opens his Moab oracle by naming it: "Of Moab. Thus says Yahweh of hosts, the God of Israel: Woe to Nebo! For it is laid waste; Kiriathaim is put to shame, it is taken; Misgab is put to shame and broken down" (Jer 48:1). Within the same chapter judgment falls on Kirjathaim again together with neighbouring towns: "and on Kiriathaim, and on Beth-gamul, and on Beth-meon" (Jer 48:23).

Ezekiel's oracle against Moab places Kirjathaim among the prized frontier cities that Yahweh will lay open: "therefore, look, I will open the side of Moab from the cities, from his cities which are on his frontiers, the glory of the country, Beth-jeshimoth, Baal-meon, and Kiriathaim" (Eze 25:9).

A Levitical City in Naphtali

A second, unrelated Kirjathaim lies far to the north, in the tribal territory of Naphtali, and is assigned with its surrounding pasture-land to the Levites: "and out of the tribe of Naphtali, Kedesh in Galilee with its suburbs, and Hammon with its suburbs, and Kiriathaim with its suburbs" (1Ch 6:76).