Places in the Bible Today:

Helam

Data

Translated NameHelam
Typesettlement
Notesmay be a region rather than a settlement
Geo Data KML (for Google Earth)
GeoJSON (for GIS applications)

4 Possible Identifications

  1. Alma (modern): 35% confidence

    1. satellite view of the region around AlmaAlma

  2. in the region between Damascus and Hamath (modern): 15% confidence

    1. panorama of cliffs in the region between Damascus and Hamathin the region between Damascus and Hamath

  3. Aleppo (modern): less than 10% confidence

    1. citadel of AleppoAleppo

  4. Alamatha (modern): less than 10% confidence

    1. Baghdad Gate at AlamathaAlamatha

Verses (2)

2Sam 10:16, 10:17

Linked Data Identifiers

SourceIdentifier
Biblemapper.com499
Logos FactbookHelam
OpenBible.info (2007)Helam
OpenBible.infoaeb09c0 (Helam)
TIPNRHelam@2Sa.10.16
UBS Names Databaseot ID_1033
WikidataQ17004410

Sources

  1. Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary (1992): Helam (place)
  2. Baker Illustrated Bible Dictionary (2013): Helam
  3. Baly, Atlas of the Biblical World (1971): Helam
  4. Carta Bible Atlas, 5th Edition (2011)
  5. Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000): Helam
  6. ESV Bible Atlas (2010)
  7. Expositor’s Bible Commentary (1984): 2Sam 10:15-19
  8. Grollenberg, Atlas of the Bible (1957): Helam
  9. Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (2003)
  10. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1979): Helam
  11. IVP Atlas of Bible History (2006): Helam
  12. IVP Old Testament Bible Background Commentary (2000): 2Sam 10:16
  13. Monson, Regions on the Run (2009): map 2
  14. New Bible Dictionary (1996): Helam
  15. New Interpreter’s Bible Dictionary (2009)
  16. New Unger’s Bible Dictionary (1988): Helam
  17. Oxford Bible Atlas, Fourth Edition (2007)
  18. Wycliffe Bible Encyclopedia (1975): Helam
  19. Zondervan Atlas of the Bible (2010)
  20. Zondervan Encyclopedia of the Bible (2010)

Confidence Trends over Time

This chart indicates how confidence in the identifications is changing over time. Each dot (connected by a dotted line) reflects the confidence of an identification over the preceding ten years (e.g., the 2009 dot reflects scholarship from 2000 to 2009), and the corresponding solid line reflects a best-fit line for the identification. Confidences that cluster near or below 0% indicate low confidence. Because of the small dataset, it's best to use this chart for general trends; if one identification is trending much higher than the others, for example, then you can probably have higher confidence in the identification. This chart only reflects the sources I consulted (listed above), not an exhaustive review of the literature.

Thumbnail Image Credits

Contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data 2019, Frank Kidner, Memorino, Odilia

About

This page attempts to identify all the possible locations where this biblical place could be. The confidence levels add up to less than 100%, indicating that the modern location is uncertain. It's best to think about the confidences in relative rather than absolute terms. Often they reflect different schools of thought, each confident in their identifications.