District and city in northern Syria. The Hamateites are already mentioned in Gen. 10:18. It was located north of Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon, but it is possible that it extended further south, since the northern limit of Israel is described as "from where they enter Hamath" (1 Kings 8:65).
Toi, the king of Hamath, congratulated David on the defeat of Hadadezer, his common enemy (2 Sam. 8:9, 10). It was more than 150 km north of Dan, but became a tributary under Solomon, who built supply cities there (2 Chron. 8:4). It seems that upon the death of Solomon it regained its independence, because it was reconquered by Jeroboam II (2 Kings 14:28). It later fell into the hands of the Assyrians (Jer. 52:9, 27).
Under Antiochus Epiphanes it received the name Epiphany (Ant. 1:6, 2). Today it is called Hamah. The Orontes River runs through the middle of the city. This district is mentioned in the future partition of the land (Ez. 47:16, 17, 20; 48:1; Am. 6:14; Zech. 9:2). In Am. 6:2 it is called "the great Hamath."
Meaning of HALAH
District and city in northern Syria. The Hamateites are already mentioned in Gen. 10:18. It was located north of Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon, but it is possible that it extended further south, since the northern limit of Israel is described as "from where they enter Hamath" (1 Kings 8:65).
