What is…
Kirjath-jearim

also known as: Kirjathbaal Kirjath-baal, and Baalah

Meaning: city of jaars (“jaars” means of woods or forests

This is a Gibeonite town (Joshua 9:17 KJV) on the border of Benjamin, to which tribe it was assigned (Joshua 18:15; 18:28).

The ark of the covenant was brought to this place (1 Samuel 7:1-2) from Beth-shemesh and put in charge of Abinadab, a Levite. Here it remained till it was removed by David to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6:2-3; 6:12; 1 Chronicles 15:1-29; compare Psalm 132).

It was also called Baalah (Joshua 15:9 KJV) and Kirjath-baal (Joshua 15:60 KJV).

It has been usually identified with Kuriet el-'Enab (i.e., “city of grapes”), among the hills, about 8 miles northeast of 'Ain Shems (i.e., Beth-shemesh). The opinion, however, that it is to be identified with 'Erma, 4 miles east of 'Ain Shems, on the edge of the valley of Sorek, seems to be better supported. (See KIRJATH.)

The words of Psalm 132:6, “We found it in the fields of the wood,” refer to the sojourn of the ark at Kirjath-jearim. “Wood” is here the rendering of the Hebrew word jaar, which is the singular of Jearim.