Ramoth-gilead

Biblical References

The Korean Revised Version, New Edition (Gaeyeok Gaejeong), generally renders this place name as "Gilead Ramoth." It appears in the following passages.

• City of refuge and Levitical city: In Deuteronomy 4:43 and Joshua 20:8, it is designated as a city of refuge in the territory of the tribe of Gad. A city of refuge was a town to which a person who had killed someone unintentionally could flee. In Joshua 21:38 and 1 Chronicles 6:80, it is listed among the cities given to the Merarite clans of the Levites.
• The time of Solomon: According to 1 Kings 4:13, Ben-geber, one of Solomon's district officers, was stationed here and governed the surrounding towns.
• The death of Ahab: This event is recorded in 1 Kings 22 and 2 Chronicles 18. Ahab, king of the northern kingdom of Israel, sought to recover the city, which had been taken by Aram, and went to battle together with Jehoshaphat, king of Judah. Four hundred prophets foretold victory, but Micaiah alone foretold defeat. Ahab fought in disguise, yet he was killed when "a certain man drew a bow at a venture" (1 Kings 22:34). For more on Ahab, see the article Ahab and Jezebel.
• The wounding of Joram and the anointing of Jehu: In 2 Kings 8:28-29, Joram king of Israel and Ahaziah king of Judah fought here against Hazael king of Aram, and Joram was wounded. In 2 Kings 9:1-14, Elisha sent one of the sons of the prophets to the city to anoint Jehu, the army commander. This event set in motion the downfall of the house of Ahab.

Background

"Ramoth" is generally understood to mean "heights" in Hebrew. Gilead is a plateau region east of the Jordan River. The city lay on the border between Israel and Aram, whose center was Damascus, and it is therefore understood to have been a strategic stronghold that both nations repeatedly sought to control.

Its exact location has not been determined. The identification with Tell Ramith in northern Jordan is widely known, but some scholars propose other sites.

Significance in the Whole of Scripture

The place name does not appear in the New Testament. There is, however, an interpretive tradition that reads the cities of refuge as a type of Christ. Within this tradition, the phrase "we ... who have fled for refuge" in Hebrews 6:18 is sometimes connected with the cities of refuge.

Interpretation and Issues

• The lying spirit: In a vision, Micaiah declares that God put "a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets" (1 Kings 22:19-23). Interpretations of this scene differ. The Reformed tradition generally explains it in terms of God's providence, which governs even evil. Other interpreters regard it as something God permitted, or read it as a declaration of judgment expressed in visionary language.
• The "chance" arrow: The randomly shot arrow that struck the disguised Ahab is often cited as an example of providence overruling human plans.
• Jehoshaphat's alliance: In 2 Chronicles 19:2, the prophet Jehu son of Hanani rebukes Jehoshaphat for helping Ahab. For this reason, the episode is often read as an example of a godly king's misguided alliance.

In the Korean Church

The account of Micaiah in 1 Kings 22 is frequently used in preaching. It is presented as an example of one who alone proclaimed the word of God while the majority of prophets said what people wanted to hear, and it is also cited as a text for distinguishing true prophets from false ones.