Baal Tamar

BAAL TAMAR (bā'ăl tā'mar, Heb. ba‘al tāmār, Baal of the palm tree). A place in Benjamin, near Gibeah and Bethel (Judg.20.33). BAAL-TAMAR bā əl tā’ mər (בַ֣עַל תָּמָ֑ר, possession of palms or Baal of Tamar). The place where the Israelites awaited the pursuing Benjamites, when Israel went to war to punish Benjamin for sinning (Judg 20:33). The identity of the place is not known, but it is near Gibeah, four m. N of Jerusalem. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915) ba`al tamar; Baal Thamar, ("Baal of the palm tree"): Evidently a seat of heathen worship (Jud 20:33) between Bethel and Gibeah (compare Jud 20:18,31). The place was known to Eusebius (Onomasticon, which see), but trace of the name is now lost. Conder suggests that it may be connected with the palm tree of Deborah (Jud 4:5) which was between Bethel and Ramah (HDB, under the word).