The Place Names in Ps. 132:6

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This is a working draft of this exegetical issue. Is has not been reviewed or approved for use.

Introduction

Psalm 132:6 refers to what appear to be two place names:

הִנֵּֽה־שְׁמַֽעֲנ֥וּהָ בְאֶפְרָ֑תָה מְ֝צָאנ֗וּהָ בִּשְׂדֵי־יָֽעַר׃

"Look! We heard about it in Ephrathah;
we found it in the fields of Jaar!"

However, there is disagreement regarding the location, significance, and best translation of both place names. Compare the following three English translations:

  • NASB: Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah, We found it in the field of Jaar.
  • KJV: Lo, we heard of it at Ephratah: We found it in the fields of the wood.
  • NCV: We heard about the Ark in Bethlehem. We found it at Kiriath Jearim.

The main options for אֶפְרָתָה (Ephrathah), v. 6a:

  1. Another name for Bethlehem in Judah
  2. District to which the town of Kiriath-jearim belonged
  3. A town near Bethel (a different Ephrathah than Bethlehem)
  4. Ephraim (thus, in Shiloh)


The main options for שְׂדֵי־יָֽעַר (sadeh-jaar; "Field of the Forest"), v. 6b:

  1. Another name for Kiriath-jearim, the place the ark was kept before David relocated it to Jerusalem.
  2. An unknown location further from Jerusalem.

Argument Map(s)

V. 6a (Ephrathah)

Option 1: Bethlehem

This view identifies Ephrathah as Bethlehem. 


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[Ephrathah refers to Bethlehem of Judah]: Ephrathah is another name for the town of David's origin.
 + <Frequent co-reference>: Ephrathah is often identified as Bethlehem.
  + [References]: 1 Sam 17:12; Gen 35:19; 48:7; Ruth 4:11; Mic 5:2.
 + <Gentilic "Ephrathite" associated with Bethlehem>: Ruth 1:2 describes Ephrathites as from Bethlehem.
 + <Contextually appropriate>: The reference to Bethlehem likely refers to a place of Philistine defeat (where they had a major force) and to David's place of origin, both directly related to the recovery of the ark (Fretheim, 297 :A:).


Argument Mapn0Ephrathah refers to Bethlehem of JudahEphrathah is another name for the town of David's origin.n1References1 Sam 17:12; Gen 35:19; 48:7; Ruth 4:11; Mic 5:2.n2Frequent co-referenceEphrathah is often identified as Bethlehem.n1->n2n2->n0n3Gentilic "Ephrathite" associated with BethlehemRuth 1:2 describes Ephrathites as from Bethlehem.n3->n0n4Contextually appropriateThe reference to Bethlehem likely refers to a place of Philistine defeat (where they had a major force) and to David's place of origin, both directly related to the recovery of the ark (Fretheim, 297 🄰).n4->n0


Option 2: District to which the town of Kiriath-jearim belonged

This reading equates, or closely identifies, Ephrathah with Kiriath-jearim. Thus, the place referred to in v. 6a is the same place referred to in v. 6b. 


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[Ephrathah refers to the town or district of Kiriath Jearim]: The two place names refer to the same general location, i.e. the place where the ark was recovered before its relocation to Jerusalem. #dispreferred
 + <Poetic parallelism>: Based on synthetic parallelism, line b refers to the same place as line a. #dispreferred
 + <Kiriath Jearim was the ark's home after the Philistines released it>: See 1 Sam 6:21–7:2. #dispreferred
 - <Different verbs>: The verb for Ephrathah ('heard about') is different from the verb for Kiriath Jearim ('found'), which suggests that the two actions happened at different locations. The speaker hear about the ark in Ephrathah, but found it in Kiriath Jearim (NET note).


Argument Mapn0Ephrathah refers to the town or district of Kiriath JearimThe two place names refer to the same general location, i.e. the place where the ark was recovered before its relocation to Jerusalem. n1Poetic parallelismBased on synthetic parallelism, line b refers to the same place as line a. n1->n0n2Kiriath Jearim was the ark's home after the Philistines released itSee 1 Sam 6:21–7:2. n2->n0n3Different verbsThe verb for Ephrathah ('heard about') is different from the verb for Kiriath Jearim ('found'), which suggests that the two actions happened at different locations. The speaker hear about the ark in Ephrathah, but found it in Kiriath Jearim (NET note).n3->n0


Option 3: A town near Bethel

(a different Ephrathah than Bethlehem) (Gen 35:16, 19; 48:7)

Option 4: Ephraim

(thus, in Shiloh)

"Fields of Jaar"

Option 1: Region of Kiriath Jearim

This reading interprets the phrase שְׂדֵי־יָעַר (lit. 'the fields of Jaar') as a reference to the geographic region of the city Kiriath Jearim, where the ark was housed immediately before its relocation to Jerusalem. 


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[Kiriath Jearim]: The phrase שְׂדֵי־יָעַר (lit. 'the fields of Jaar') refers to the region of the city Kiriath Jearim, where the ark was housed before its relocation to Jerusalem.
 + <Lexical range of n. שָׂדֶה>: The n. שָׂדֶה, here in the pl. construct שְׂדֵי, can refer to regions or territories (HALOT :L:).
  + [Examples]: Gen 14:7 ('defeated all the region (pl.) of the Amalekites'); 32:4 ('the country (s.) of Edom'); Ruth 1:1 ('the land (pl.) of Moab'); 2:6 ('the land (s.) of Moab')  
  + <Two pl. forms for n. שָׂדֶה>: The n. שָׂדֶה ('field') has two plurals: שָׂדִים ('fields,' 'countryside') and שָׂדוֹת (individual fields, individual farms); the former is used on Ps 132:6 (Joüon-Muraoka 2006: §90e :G:).
 + <Multiple names>: Kiriath Jearim was also known as Kiriath-Baal, Baalah, and Baale-Judah (SDBH :L:) 
  + [References]: Josh 15:9 - "Then the boundary bends around to Baalah (that is, Kiriath-jearim)"; Josh 15:60 - "Kiriath-baal (that is, Kiriath-jearim)"; 2 Sam 6:2 - "David arose . . . from Baale-judah to bring up from there the ark of God."
  + <Geographic place name changes>: Similar name changes (or multiple names) are well-attested, including evidence of old Canaanite names.
   + [Example of Canaanite place name]: Josh 14:15 - "Now the name of Hebron formerly was Kiriath-arba. (Arba was the greatest man among the Anakim.)"
 + <Supporting accounts>: The location of the ark in Kiriath Jearim is attested elsewhere in the Hebrew Bible. 
  + [Biblical support]: 1 Sam 7:1–2; 1 Chron 13:6.


Argument Mapn0Kiriath JearimThe phrase שְׂדֵי־יָעַר (lit. 'the fields of Jaar') refers to the region of the city Kiriath Jearim, where the ark was housed before its relocation to Jerusalem.n1ExamplesGen 14:7 ('defeated all the region (pl.) of the Amalekites'); 32:4 ('the country (s.) of Edom'); Ruth 1:1 ('the land (pl.) of Moab'); 2:6 ('the land (s.) of Moab') n5Lexical range of n. שָׂדֶהThe n. שָׂדֶה, here in the pl. construct שְׂדֵי, can refer to regions or territories (HALOT 🄻).n1->n5n2ReferencesJosh 15:9 - "Then the boundary bends around to Baalah (that is, Kiriath-jearim)"; Josh 15:60 - "Kiriath-baal (that is, Kiriath-jearim)"; 2 Sam 6:2 - "David arose . . . from Baale-judah to bring up from there the ark of God."n7Multiple namesKiriath Jearim was also known as Kiriath-Baal, Baalah, and Baale-Judah (SDBH 🄻) n2->n7n3Example of Canaanite place nameJosh 14:15 - "Now the name of Hebron formerly was Kiriath-arba. (Arba was the greatest man among the Anakim.)"n8Geographic place name changesSimilar name changes (or multiple names) are well-attested, including evidence of old Canaanite names.n3->n8n4Biblical support1 Sam 7:1–2; 1 Chron 13:6. n9Supporting accountsThe location of the ark in Kiriath Jearim is attested elsewhere in the Hebrew Bible. n4->n9n5->n0n6Two pl. forms for n. שָׂדֶהThe n. שָׂדֶה ('field') has two plurals: שָׂדִים ('fields,' 'countryside') and שָׂדוֹת (individual fields, individual farms); the former is used on Ps 132:6 (Joüon-Muraoka 2006: §90e 🄶).n6->n5n7->n0n8->n7n9->n0


Option 2: Unknown Alternate Location

The second possibility for the phrase 'fields of Jaar' is that is refers to another location otherwise unknown to us. The NLT supports this interpretation: "We heard that the Ark was in Ephrathah; then we found it in the distant countryside of Jaar." 


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[Unknown alternate location]: The phrase שְׂדֵי־יָעַר (lit. 'the fields of Jaar') refers to a city or a region otherwise unattested. #dispreferred
 + <Phrase is otherwise unattested>: The phrase שְׂדֵי־יָעַר (lit. 'the fields of Jaar') is found nowhere else in the Hebrew Bible or in extra-biblical sources. #dispreferred 
 - <Neg> argument.


Argument Mapn0Unknown alternate locationThe phrase שְׂדֵי־יָעַר (lit. 'the fields of Jaar') refers to a city or a region otherwise unattested. n1Phrase is otherwise unattestedThe phrase שְׂדֵי־יָעַר (lit. 'the fields of Jaar') is found nowhere else in the Hebrew Bible or in extra-biblical sources. n1->n0n2Negn2->n0


Conclusion

Research

Translations

Ancient

  • LXX: ἰδοὺ ἠκούσαμεν αὐτὴν ἐν Εφραθα, εὕρομεν αὐτὴν ἐν τοῖς πεδίοις τοῦ δρυμοῦ [plains of the forest]·
  • Tg: הָא שְׁמַעְנָא יָתָהּ בְּאֶפְרָת אַשְׁכַּחְנוּהָא בַּחֲקַל חוּרְשֵׁי לִבְנָן אֲתַר דְצַלִיאוּ אֲבָהָת עַלְמָא (Behold, we have heard it in Ephrat, we have found it in the field of the forests of Lebanon, the place where the fathers of old prayed [Cook])
  • Hier: Secce audivimus eam in Efrata invenimus eam in campis silvae

Modern

Ephrathah and 'the fields/region of Jaar'

  • NASB: Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah, We found it in the field of Jaar.
  • NIV: We heard it in Ephrathah, we came upon it in the fields of Jaar.
  • NLT: We heard that the Ark was in Ephrathah; then we found it in the distant countryside of Jaar.
  • NBLA: Oímos de ella en Efrata; La hallamos en los campos de Jaar.
  • BHTI: Oímos que el Arca estaba en Efrata, la encontramos en los campos de Jaar.
  • DHH941: En Efrata oímos hablar del arca de la alianza, y la encontramos en los campos de Jáar.
  • Lut: Siehe, wir hörten von ihr in Efrata, wir haben sie gefunden im Gefilde von Jaar.
  • Hfa: In Efrata bekamen wir Nachricht über die Bundeslade; wir fanden sie dann im Gebiet von Jaar.

Ephrathah and 'the fields of the forest'

  • KJV: Lo, we heard of it at Ephratah: We found it in the fields of the wood.
  • ASV: Lo, we heard of it in Ephrathah: We found it in the field of the wood.
  • NVR95: En Efrata lo oímos; lo hallamos en los campos del bosque.
  • Biblia Jubileo 2000: He aquí, en Efrata oímos de ella; la hallamos en los campos del bosque.

Bethlehem and Kiriath Jearim

  • NCV: We heard about the Ark in Bethlehem. We found it at Kiriath Jearim.

Other

  • NBV: En Efrata oímos hablar del cofre; dimos con él en los campos de Yagar.

Secondary Literature

UBS Handbook: Ephrathah seems to have been the older name of Bethlehem (see Ruth 1:1–2; Micah 5:2); Kiriath Jearim (here called the fields of Jaar) was a town some fourteen kilometers northwest of Jerusalem, where the Covenant Box stayed for some twenty years, after having been returned by the Philistines, who had captured it in battle (1 Sam 4:1–6:16). KJV “fields of the wood” is a possible translation of the Hebrew phrase; most modern scholars are convinced that the Hebrew phrase is a variant for Kiriath Jearim (which means “the city of woods”). . . . It seems best to translate as TEV has done [In Bethlehem we heard about the Covenant Box, and we found it in the fields of Jearim.]; GECL has “In Ephrathah we received the news about the Covenant Box of the Lord, and we found it in the vicinity of Jaar.” (Bratcher and Reyburn, UBS Handbook, 1090–1091).

Fretheim: "If [Ephrathah] refers to Bethlehem, then it could mean one of two things. It could refer to a defeat of the Philistines at Ephrathah, where they had a major force. Or, it means that it was Ephrathah which served as the point of origin for the attempt to secure the ark, namely, in the person of David who was from there. The verse would then encapsulate the beginning and end of the events leading to the recovery of the ark. This we believe to be the most probable interpretation." ("Psalm 132: A Form-Critical Study," 297).

References

132:6

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