Location
Overview
Anathoth was a Levitical (priestly) town in the territory of Benjamin, a short distance north-east of Jerusalem. It was the birthplace of Jeremiah.
Jeremiah of Anathoth
"The words of Jeremiah... of the priests that were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin" (Jeremiah 1:1). From this priestly town came the "weeping prophet" who warned Judah of the Babylonian judgment.
Rejected by his own town
His neighbours turned against him: "the men of Anathoth... seek thy life, saying, Prophesy not in the name of the LORD" (Jeremiah 11:21).
The field of hope
Yet even as Jerusalem was about to fall, God told Jeremiah to buy a field at Anathoth from his cousin as a sign that "houses and fields and vineyards shall be possessed again in this land" (Jeremiah 32:7–15) — a deed of hope amid ruin.
Events Here
Jeremiah the priest of Anathoth is called to prophesy
Jeremiah buys a field at Anathoth as a sign of hope
Scripture References
16 versesJoshua1 verse
Joshua 21:18
Anathoth with her suburbs, and Almon with her suburbs; four cities.
1 Kings1 verse
1 Kings 2:26
And unto Abiathar the priest said the king, Get thee to Anathoth, unto thine own fields; for thou art worthy of death: but I will not at this time put thee to death, because thou barest the ark of the Lord GOD before David my father, and because thou hast been afflicted in all wherein my father was afflicted. worthy: Heb. a man of death
1 Chronicles2 verses
1 Chronicles 6:60
And out of the tribe of Benjamin; Geba with her suburbs, and Alemeth with her suburbs, and Anathoth with her suburbs. All their cities throughout their families were thirteen cities. Alemeth: or, Almon
1 Chronicles 7:8
And the sons of Becher; Zemira, and Joash, and Eliezer, and Elioenai, and Omri, and Jerimoth, and Abiah, and Anathoth, and Alameth. All these are the sons of Becher.
Ezra1 verse
Ezra 2:23
The men of Anathoth, an hundred twenty and eight.
Nehemiah3 verses
Nehemiah 7:27
The men of Anathoth, an hundred twenty and eight.
Nehemiah 10:19
Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai,
Nehemiah 11:32
And at Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah,
Isaiah1 verse
Isaiah 10:30
Lift up thy voice, O daughter of Gallim: cause it to be heard unto Laish, O poor Anathoth. Lift: Heb. Cry shrill with
Jeremiah7 verses
Jeremiah 1:1
The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests that were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin:
Jeremiah 11:21
Therefore thus saith the LORD of the men of Anathoth, that seek thy life, saying, Prophesy not in the name of the LORD, that thou die not by our hand:
Jeremiah 11:23
And there shall be no remnant of them: for I will bring evil upon the men of Anathoth, even the year of their visitation.
Jeremiah 29:27
Now therefore why hast thou not reproved Jeremiah of Anathoth, which maketh himself a prophet to you?
Jeremiah 32:7
Behold, Hanameel the son of Shallum thine uncle shall come unto thee, saying, Buy thee my field that is in Anathoth: for the right of redemption is thine to buy it.
Jeremiah 32:8
So Hanameel mine uncle's son came to me in the court of the prison according to the word of the LORD, and said unto me, Buy my field, I pray thee, that is in Anathoth, which is in the country of Benjamin: for the right of inheritance is thine, and the redemption is thine; buy it for thyself. Then I knew that this was the word of the LORD.
Jeremiah 32:9
And I bought the field of Hanameel my uncle's son, that was in Anathoth, and weighed him the money, even seventeen shekels of silver. seventeen: or, seven shekels and ten pieces of silver
Archaeology & History
Anathoth is preserved at the village of Anata, just north-east of Jerusalem. As a town set aside for priests (Joshua 21:18), it was also where Solomon banished the priest Abiathar to his fields (1 Kings 2:26) — the same priestly community into which Jeremiah was later born.
People who appear here
Objects mentioned here
Frequently asked about Anathoth
Where is Anathoth today?
Today, Anathoth corresponds to Anata, West Bank.
What happened at Anathoth in the Bible?
Key biblical events at Anathoth include jeremiah the priest of anathoth is called to prophesy; jeremiah buys a field at anathoth as a sign of hope.
Where is Anathoth first mentioned in the Bible?
Anathoth is first mentioned in Joshua 21:18.
How often is Anathoth mentioned in the Bible?
Anathoth is mentioned in 16 verses across 7 books: Joshua, 1 Kings, 1 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Isaiah, Jeremiah.
Who was from Anathoth?
The prophet Jeremiah, born into the priestly family of Anathoth in Benjamin.
Why did Jeremiah buy a field at Anathoth?
As Jerusalem faced destruction, God told him to buy his cousin’s field there as a prophetic sign that the land would one day be inhabited and cultivated again.