Arimathæa

ARIMATHÆA, or Ramatha, a City from whence came Joseph of Arimathæa, Luke xxiii. 52.mentioned in the Gospel. S. Jerom places it between Lydda and Joppa. Modern travellers speak of a City called Ramatha, between Joppa and Jerusalem, situated on a mountain. The name of Ramatha, whence Arimathæa is formed, signifies Height. But this place is very different from Ramathaïm-zophim, Samuel’s country. Arimathæa lay Westward of Jerusalem, and Ramathaïm to the North 1 Sam. i. 1.of the same City in the mountains of Ephraim. Besides, the way which Saul took, when he was seeking after his Father’s Asses, will not allow us to place Ramathaïm Westward of Jerusalem, as we 1 Sam. ix. 4, 5, 6.may be easily convinced, if we follow him. For he set out from Gibeah, from thence he advanced Northward to the mountains of Ephraim; then he turned towards the West, and went to Shalisha Westward of Jerusalem, from thence he passed through the land of Shalim or Salem; that is to say, the country about Jerusalem, and so proceeding still towards the East, he went through the Tribe of Benjamin; and as he intended to return towards Gibeah, he came Northward into the land of Zuph, or Zophim, near Ramathaïm Zophim, where he spoke to Samuel. (It is my opi¹ nion that the City Ramathaïm-Zophim, is the fame as Ramah near Bethel, four leagues distant from Jerufalem.) When he 1 Kings x. 2, 3.went from thence, Samuel told Saul, that as he returned to Gibeah, he would find two men who came from Rachel’s fepulchre in the neighbourhood of Bethlehem, and by these he would be informed, that his Father’s Affes were found; that a little farther he should meet three men, going in pilgrimage to Bethel; and that at last he should come to an eminence above Gibeah, the place of his birth, which was then in the poffeffion of the Philitines. See the Map.

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