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Ramah (of Samuel)

Benjamin / Ephraim border

Town in Benjamin / Ephraim border · today Er-Ram, West Bank (probable)

Meaning: “Height, high place

The home, judgment seat, and burial place of the prophet Samuel.

Location

Overview

Ramah ("the height") was the home of the prophet Samuel — the centre of his life and ministry. (Several towns bear the name; this is Samuel's Ramah, sometimes Ramathaim-zophim.)

The home of Samuel

Samuel's parents Elkanah and Hannah lived at Ramah, and there the dedicated boy's family returned year by year (1 Samuel 1:19; 2:11). Samuel made Ramah his base: "his return was to Ramah; for there was his house; and there he judged Israel" (1 Samuel 7:17).

"Give us a king"

It was to Ramah that the elders of Israel came demanding a king "like all the nations," and from there Samuel warned them and then anointed Saul (1 Samuel 8:4–5).

The death of Samuel

"And Samuel died... and all the Israelites... buried him in his house at Ramah" (1 Samuel 25:1). David fled to Samuel at Ramah when Saul sought his life (1 Samuel 19:18). Ramah later echoes in prophecy — "a voice was heard in Ramah... Rachel weeping for her children" (Jeremiah 31:15).

Events Here

1063 BC

Samuel judges Israel from his home at Ramah

1 Samuel 7:17
1012 BC

Samuel dies and is buried at Ramah

1 Samuel 25:1

Scripture References

34 verses
Joshua3 verses

Joshua 18:25

Gibeon, and Ramah, and Beeroth,

Joshua 19:29

And then the coast turneth to Ramah, and to the strong city Tyre; and the coast turneth to Hosah; and the outgoings thereof are at the sea from the coast to Achzib: Tyre: Heb. Tzor

Joshua 19:36

And Adamah, and Ramah, and Hazor,

Judges2 verses

Judges 4:5

And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.

Judges 19:13

And he said unto his servant, Come, and let us draw near to one of these places to lodge all night, in Gibeah, or in Ramah.

1 Samuel14 verses

1 Samuel 1:19

And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the LORD, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the LORD remembered her.

1 Samuel 2:11

And Elkanah went to Ramah to his house. And the child did minister unto the LORD before Eli the priest.

1 Samuel 7:17

And his return was to Ramah; for there was his house; and there he judged Israel; and there he built an altar unto the LORD.

1 Samuel 8:4

Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah,

1 Samuel 15:34

Then Samuel went to Ramah; and Saul went up to his house to Gibeah of Saul.

1 Samuel 16:13

Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.

1 Samuel 19:18

So David fled, and escaped, and came to Samuel to Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and dwelt in Naioth.

1 Samuel 19:19

And it was told Saul, saying, Behold, David is at Naioth in Ramah.

1 Samuel 19:22

Then went he also to Ramah, and came to a great well that is in Sechu: and he asked and said, Where are Samuel and David? And one said, Behold, they be at Naioth in Ramah.

1 Samuel 19:23

And he went thither to Naioth in Ramah: and the Spirit of God was upon him also, and he went on, and prophesied, until he came to Naioth in Ramah.

1 Samuel 20:1

And David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and said before Jonathan, What have I done? what is mine iniquity? and what is my sin before thy father, that he seeketh my life?

1 Samuel 22:6

When Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men that were with him, (now Saul abode in Gibeah under a tree in Ramah, having his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing about him;) tree: or, grove in a high place

1 Samuel 25:1

And Samuel died; and all the Israelites were gathered together, and lamented him, and buried him in his house at Ramah. And David arose, and went down to the wilderness of Paran.

1 Samuel 28:3

Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. And Saul had put away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land.

1 Kings3 verses

1 Kings 15:17

And Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah, and built Ramah, that he might not suffer any to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.

1 Kings 15:21

And it came to pass, when Baasha heard thereof, that he left off building of Ramah, and dwelt in Tirzah.

1 Kings 15:22

Then king Asa made a proclamation throughout all Judah; none was exempted: and they took away the stones of Ramah, and the timber thereof, wherewith Baasha had builded; and king Asa built with them Geba of Benjamin, and Mizpah. exempted: Heb. free

2 Kings1 verse

2 Kings 8:29

And king Joram went back to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds which the Syrians had given him at Ramah, when he fought against Hazael king of Syria. And Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to see Joram the son of Ahab in Jezreel, because he was sick. which: Heb. wherewith the Syrians had wounded Ramah: called Ramoth sick: Heb. wounded

2 Chronicles4 verses

2 Chronicles 16:1

In the six and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa Baasha king of Israel came up against Judah, and built Ramah, to the intent that he might let none go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.

2 Chronicles 16:5

And it came to pass, when Baasha heard it, that he left off building of Ramah, and let his work cease.

2 Chronicles 16:6

Then Asa the king took all Judah; and they carried away the stones of Ramah, and the timber thereof, wherewith Baasha was building; and he built therewith Geba and Mizpah.

2 Chronicles 22:6

And he returned to be healed in Jezreel because of the wounds which were given him at Ramah, when he fought with Hazael king of Syria. And Azariah the son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to see Jehoram the son of Ahab at Jezreel, because he was sick. which: Heb. wherewith they wounded him Azariah: also called, Ahaziah, ver.I. or, Jehoahaz, ver.21.17.

Ezra1 verse

Ezra 2:26

The children of Ramah and Gaba, six hundred twenty and one.

Nehemiah2 verses

Nehemiah 7:30

The men of Ramah and Geba, six hundred twenty and one.

Nehemiah 11:33

Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim,

Isaiah1 verse

Isaiah 10:29

They are gone over the passage: they have taken up their lodging at Geba; Ramah is afraid; Gibeah of Saul is fled.

Jeremiah2 verses

Jeremiah 31:15

Thus saith the LORD; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rahel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not.

Jeremiah 40:1

The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, after that Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had let him go from Ramah, when he had taken him being bound in chains among all that were carried away captive of Jerusalem and Judah, which were carried away captive unto Babylon. chains: or, manicles

Hosea1 verse

Hosea 5:8

Blow ye the cornet in Gibeah, and the trumpet in Ramah: cry aloud at Bethaven, after thee, O Benjamin.

Archaeology & History

Samuel's Ramah is most often identified with er-Ram, a few miles north of Jerusalem in the territory of Benjamin, on the central ridge route. Its name simply means "height," which is why so many hill-towns carried it — a source of much confusion among the biblical Ramahs.

People who appear here

Samuel7×
David7×
Saul5×
Asa4×
Ahab2×
Hazael2×
Deborah1×
Hannah1×
Eli1×
Jonathan1×
Jeremiah1×

Frequently asked about Ramah (of Samuel)

Where is Ramah (of Samuel) today?

Today, Ramah (of Samuel) corresponds to Er-Ram, West Bank (probable).

What does the name Ramah (of Samuel) mean?

The name Ramah (of Samuel) means “Height, high place”.

What happened at Ramah (of Samuel) in the Bible?

Key biblical events at Ramah (of Samuel) include samuel judges israel from his home at ramah; samuel dies and is buried at ramah.

Where is Ramah (of Samuel) first mentioned in the Bible?

Ramah (of Samuel) is first mentioned in Joshua 18:25.

How often is Ramah (of Samuel) mentioned in the Bible?

Ramah (of Samuel) is mentioned in 34 verses across 11 books: Joshua, Judges, 1 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Hosea.

Who lived at Ramah?

The prophet Samuel. It was his hometown, the seat from which he judged Israel, and the place of his burial.

Are there several places called Ramah?

Yes — "Ramah" means "height" and names several hill-towns. This is Samuel’s Ramah in Benjamin; others appear in Naphtali, Asher, and elsewhere.

Ramah (of Samuel) — Biblical Place | Selah