Places in the Bible Today:

Zarethan

Data

Translated NamesZaretan, Zarethan, Zartanah, Zarthan
Typesettlement
Geo Data KML (for Google Earth)
GeoJSON (for GIS applications)

9 Possible Identifications

  1. Tell es Sa’idiyeh (modern): 35% confidence

    1. artifact from Tell es Sa’idiyehTell es Sa’idiyeh

  2. Tell Umm Hamad (modern): 25% confidence

    1. satellite view of the region around Tell Umm HamadTell Umm Hamad

  3. Tall al Meqbarah (modern): less than 10% confidence

    1. satellite view of the region around Tall al MeqbarahTall al Meqbarah

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

    1. satellite view of the region around SleikhatSleikhat

  5. Tell Simadi (modern): less than 10% confidence

    1. satellite view of the region around Tell SimadiTell Simadi

  6. Tell ed Damiyeh (modern): less than 10% confidence

    1. panorama of a region including Tell ed DamiyehTell ed Damiyeh

  7. Tell el Qos (modern): less than 10% confidence

    1. satellite view of the region around Tell el QosTell el Qos

  8. Tel Rehov (modern): less than 10% confidence

    1. ruins at Tel RehovTel Rehov

  9. Qarn Sartaba (modern): less than 10% confidence

    1. ruins at Qarn SartabaQarn Sartaba

Verses (3)

Josh-Ruth (1)
Josh 3:16
1Sam-Esth (2)
1Kgs 4:12, 7:46

Linked Data Identifiers

SourceIdentifier
Biblemapper.com988
Logos FactbookZarethan
OpenBible.info (2007)Zarethan
OpenBible.infoafa84ca (Zarethan)
TIPNRZarethan@Jos.3.16
UBS Names Databaseot ID_2565
WikidataQ147911

Sources

  1. Aharoni, Land of the Bible (1979): page 443
  2. Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary (1992): Zarethan (place)
  3. Baly, Atlas of the Biblical World (1971): Zarethan
  4. Baly, The Geography of the Bible (1974): page 199
  5. Carta Bible Atlas, 5th Edition (2011)
  6. Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000): Zarethan
  7. ESV Bible Atlas (2010)
  8. Expositor’s Bible Commentary (1984): 2Chr 4:17
  9. Grollenberg, Atlas of the Bible (1957): Zarethan
  10. Hammond Atlas of the Bible Lands (2007): Zarethan
  11. HarperCollins Bible Dictionary (2011): Zarethan
  12. HarperCollins Concise Atlas of the Bible (1991)
  13. Hess, Joshua (1996): 3:16
  14. Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (2003)
  15. Holman Illustrated Guide to Bible Geography (2020): page 177
  16. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1979): Zarethan
  17. IVP Old Testament Bible Background Commentary (2000): 2Chr 4:17; Josh 3:16; Josh 3:16; Judg 7:22; 2Chr 4:17
  18. New Bible Atlas (1985): Zarethan
  19. New Bible Dictionary (1996): Zarethan
  20. New Interpreter’s Bible Dictionary (2009)
  21. New Unger’s Bible Dictionary (1988)
  22. Oxford Bible Atlas, Fourth Edition (2007)
  23. Reader’s Digest Atlas of the Bible (1981): Zarethan
  24. Tübingen Bible Atlas (2001): Sarepta
  25. Westminster Historical Atlas to the Bible (1956): Zaretan, Zarethan
  26. Woudstra, Joshua (1981): 13:26-27 note 27
  27. Wycliffe Bible Encyclopedia (1975): Zarethan
  28. Zondervan Atlas of the Bible (2010)
  29. Zondervan Encyclopedia of the Bible (2010)
  30. Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary (2009): Josh 3:16; Judg 7:22
  31. Zondervan Pictorial Bible Atlas (1972): page 96

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

Mary Harrsch, Contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data 2019, Matson Collection, Bukvoed, Bukvoed

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.