A city associated with Abimelech and King Jehoiakim's mother.
Arumah
Named in 2 verses across 2 books, first in Judges 9:41.
אֲרוּמָהArumah
רוּמָהRumah
Also called Rumah.
The name means “high; exalted.” Hitchcock's Bible Names, 1869
About Arumah Written by AI
Arumah, also known as Rumah, is a city mentioned twice in the Bible in different contexts. In Judges 9:41, Arumah is associated with Abimelech, the son of Gideon, who ruled as a king over Israel for three years. After Abimelech's conflict with the people of Shechem, he lived in Arumah, possibly using it as a base of operations or a place of refuge. The city is mentioned again in 2Ki.23.36, where it is identified as the hometown of Zebidah, the mother of King Jehoiakim of Judah. Jehoiakim, who reigned in the early 6th century BC, was a vassal of Egypt and later Babylon. The mention of Rumah as his mother's place of origin suggests that the city may have been located in the northern kingdom of Israel or in the region of Samaria. The exact location of Arumah or Rumah is uncertain, but some scholars propose that it could be identified with Khirbet el-Ormah, a site about 6 miles (10 km) southeast of Shechem. However, this identification remains tentative. The biblical references to Arumah or Rumah, though brief, provide glimpses into the political and familial connections of significant figures in Israel's history, such as Abimelech and King Jehoiakim. The city's association with these individuals suggests its relative importance during their respective times.
Drafted by an AI model for STEPBible's TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Check it against the verses below.
32.155, 35.318 See it on a map
Where the Bible names it
- Judges 9:41
Abimelech stayed in Arumah, and Zebul drove Gaal and his brothers out of Shechem.
- 2 Kings 23:36
Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. His mother’s name was Zebidah daughter of Pedaiah; she was from Rumah.
From STEPBible's TIPNR, Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0): names, family, references and the AI written article. Verse text is the BSB.