Anathoth

Anathoth is both the name of two persons, neither of any great significance, and a place.

Persons

1. One of the sons of a man named Beker listed in 1 Chron 7:8, of the tribe of Benjamin. Nothing else is said about him.

2. Though no details is provided about this individual named in Neh 10:19, he is listed as one of the "leaders of the people" (v14) who had returned from Babylon to Jerusalem and to have had his seal affixed to the covenant initiated by Nehemiah (9:38).

Location - Anathoth was located about 3 miles (c5km) north-east of Jerusalem in the territory of Benjamin. It is perhaps most remembered as the birthplace and residence of the prophet Benjamin, though in ancient Israel it would also have been remembered as a Levitical city as well as a city of refuge. When Abiathar, David's highpriest, made a political faux pas siding with Adonijah instead of Solomon in the contest for David's succession, Solomon banished him to Anathoth (1 Ki 2:26; the Hebrew verb is simply "go" instead of NIV's "go back"). The ancient town is today identified with the town of Anata.