ADULLAM

Adullam: translation

Adullam

• Details on two places with this name

Catholic Encyclopedia.Kevin Knight.2006.

Adullam

    Adullam

    ^{† Catholic_Encyclopedia ► Adullam}

    (Hebr.Adhullam, Vulg. Odollam, but Adullam in Jos., xv, 35.)

    (1) A Chanaanite city, to the west of Bethlehem, at the foot of the mountains of Juda. From the hands of the Chanaanites (Gem, xxxviii, 1 sqq.) it passed into the power of Juda (Jos., xii, 15; xv, 35), was fortified by Roboam (II Par., xi, 7), mentioned by the prophet Micheas (i, 15), and after the exile re-peopled by Jews (II Esdr., xi, 30; II Mach., xii, 38).

    (2) The Cave of Adullam, the shelter of David and his followers (I K., xxii, 1, 2), is situated, according to some, six miles southeast of Bethlehem, in the Wady Khareitun; but more probably near the city of Adullam.

    CLERMONT-GANNEAU and CONDER, Palestine Exploration Fund, Mere., III, 361-367; MUIR in HAST., Dict. of the Bible, I (New York, 1903).

    A.S. MAAS

The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume VIII. — New York: Robert Appleton Company.Nihil Obstat.1910.

Adullam: translation

   One of the royal cities of the Canaanites, now Aid-el-ma (Josh. 12:15; 15:35). It stood on the old Roman road in the valley of Elah (q.v.), which was the scene of David's memorable victory over Goliath (1 Sam. 17:2), and not far from Gath. It was one of the towns which Rehoboam fortified against Egypt (2 Chr. 11:7). It was called "the glory of Israel" (Micah 1:15).

   The Cave of Adullam has been discovered about 2 miles south of the scene of David's triumph, and about 13 miles west from Bethlehem. At this place is a hill some 500 feet high pierced with numerous caverns, in one of which David gathered together "every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented" (1 Sam. 22:2). Some of these caverns are large enough to hold 200 or 300 men. According to tradition this cave was at Wady Khureitun, between Bethlehem and the Dead Sea, but this view cannot be well maintained.