the Week of Proper 28 / Ordinary 33
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Bible Encyclopedias
Adummim
Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature
or Adum´mim, a place which is only twice named in Scripture. Once (Joshua 15:7), where, from the context, it seems to indicate the border between Judah and Benjamin, and that it was an ascending road between Gilgal (and also Jericho) and Jerusalem. The second notice (Joshua 18:17) adds no further information, but repeats 'the ascent to Adummim.' Most commentators take the name to mean the place of blood, and follow Jerome, who finds the place in the dangerous or mountainous part of the road between Jerusalem and Jericho, and supposes that it was so called from the frequent effusion of blood by the robbers, by whom it was much infested. These are curious interpretations of the original word, which merely denotes the redness of the soil or rock. However, as a difficult pass in a desolate rocky region, between important cities, the part of the road indicated by Jerome, and all after him, was as likely to be infested by robbers in earlier times as in those of Jerome and at the present day. Indeed, the character of the road was so notorious, that Christ lays the scene of the parable of the good Samaritan (Luke 10) upon it; and Jerome informs us that Adummim or Adommim was believed to be the place where the traveler (taken as a real person) 'fell among thieves.' He adds that a fort and garrison was maintained here for the safeguard of travelers. The travelers of the present century mention the spot and neighborhood nearly in the same terms as those of older date. They all represent the road as still infested by robbers, from whom some of them have not escaped without danger. The place thus indicated is about eight miles from Jerusalem, and four from Jericho.
Public Domain.
Kitto, John, ed. Entry for 'Adummim'. "Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature". https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/kbe/a/adummim.html.
