Ataroth

Easton's Dictionary

Crowns. (1.) A city east of Jordan, not far from Gilead (Num. 32:3).

(2.) A town on the border of Ephraim and Benjamin (Josh. 16:2, 7), called also Ataroth-adar (16:5). Now ed-Da’rieh.

(3.) “Ataroth, the house of Joab” (1 Chr. 2:54), a town of Judah inhabited by the descendants of Caleb.

Smith's Dictionary

(crowns).

One of the towns in the “land of Jazer and land of Gilead,” (Numbers 32:3) east of the Jordan, taken and built by the tribe of Gad. (Numbers 32:34) A place on the (south?) boundary of Ephraim and Manasseh. (Joshua 16:2,7) It is impossible to say whether Ataroth is or is not the same place as ATAROTH-ADAR, or -Addar, on the west border of Benjamin, “near the ’mountain’ that is on the south side of the nether Beth-horon.” (Joshua 16:5; 18:13) Perhaps the modern Atara, six miles northeast of Bethel. “ATAROTH, THE House OF Joab,” a place(?) occurring in the list of the descendants of Judah. (1 Chronicles 2:54)

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

at'-a-roth, a-ta'-roth (`aTaroth, "crowns" or "wreaths"; Ataroth):

(1) A city East of the Jordan, apparently in the territory given to Reuben, but built, or fortified, by the children of Gad (Nu 32:3,34). It is named along with Dibon, which is identified with Dhiban. Eight miles Northeast by North of Dibon, on the South of Wady Zerqa Ma`in, stands Jebel `Attarus, in which the ancient name is preserved. The city is doubtless represented by Khirbet `Attarus, about 4 miles West of the mountain.

(2) A place on the boundary between Ephraim and Benjamin, toward the West (Jos 16:2). It seems to be the same as Ataroth- addar of Jos 16:5, 18:13. It is probably to be identified with the modern ed-Dariyeh South of nether Bethhoron, and about 12 1/2 miles West of Jerusalem.

(3) A place on the eastern frontier of Ephraim (Jos 16:7). This town has not been identified. Conder thinks it may be identified with et-Truneh in the Jordan valley, or with Khirbet et-Taiyereh.

W. Ewing