Anathoth _ the name of one of the cities of refuge, in the tribe of Benjamin (Josh. 21:18). The Jews, as a rule, did not change the names of the towns they found in Palestine; hence this town may be regarded as deriving its name from the goddess ‘Anat. It was the native place of Abiezer, one of David's "thirty" (2 Sam. 23:27), and of Jehu, another of his mighty men (1 Chr. 12:3). It is chiefly notable, however, as the birth-place and usual residence of Jeremiah (Jer. 1:1; 11:21_23; 29:27; 32:7_9). It suffered greatly from the army of Sennacherib, and only 128 men returned to it from the Exile (Neh. 7:27; Ezra 2:23). It lay about 3 miles north of Jerusalem. It has been identified with the small and poor village of 'Anata, containing about 100 inhabitants.
Anathoth is identified with Anata, about two and a half miles north--east of Jerusalem, and everything favours that identification; around Anata are found the names of the villages mentioned in
Anathoth is reckoned among the Levitical cities of
Abiezer, one of Davids valiant men was from that city (2 Samuel 23:27), which had also given to David one of his first followers in the person of
(1) Anathoth is identified with Anata, about two and a half miles north--east of Jerusalem, and everything favours that identification; around Anata are found the names of the villages mentioned in Isaias, x, 28.
From its height (2235 ft.), Anata, which seems to have been fortified in the past, commands a fine but desolate view east and south-east the north end of the Dead Sea and the Lower Jordan are visible across the hills of the wilderness.
Anathoth is reckoned among the Levitical cities of Benjamin (Jos., xxi, 18; I Par., vi, 60).
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