from חָרַם; devoted; Chorem, a place in Palestine; Horem.
Transliteration:Chŏrêm
Pronunciation:khor-ame'
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew lemma חֳרֵם (Chŏrêm), Strong's number `{{H2765}}`, is a proper noun, specifically a place name. Its meaning is directly derived from the verbal root חָרַם (charam, `{{H2763}}`), which carries a potent semantic range encompassing "to devote," "to consecrate," and "to utterly destroy" or "to ban." This root is foundational to the concept of the *cherem* (the ban or devoted thing). Therefore, the name Chorem itself implies a state of being "devoted" or "set apart," often with the connotation of being dedicated to God for destruction or for exclusive use, making it off-limits for common human appropriation. As a geographical designation, the name likely reflects a historical event or characteristic of the location, perhaps indicating a place that was subjected to the ban, utterly destroyed in a holy war, or otherwise uniquely consecrated to Yahweh.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The place name Chorem (חֳרֵם, `{{H2765}}`) appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, within the detailed account of the tribal allotments in the book of Joshua:
* [[Joshua 19:38]]: "and Iron, and Migdal-el, Horem, and Beth-anath, and Beth-shemesh; nineteen cities with their villages." This verse lists Chorem as one of the fortified cities belonging to the tribe of Naphtali, located in the northern region of Canaan.
The context of this single occurrence is a post-conquest inventory, meticulously detailing the inheritance granted to each of the Israelite tribes. The inclusion of Chorem among "fortified cities" suggests a place of strategic importance or significant population at the time of the allotment. While the text does not elaborate on *why* the city was named Chorem, its inclusion in this list of settled territories, rather than as a site of a specific *cherem* action, implies that by the time of the tribal divisions, it was an established part of the Israelite inheritance. The name may serve as a historical echo of an earlier event, or perhaps a perpetual reminder of the divine claim over the land and its inhabitants.
### Related Words & Concepts
The primary and most significant related word to חֳרֵם (Chŏrêm, `{{H2765}}`) is its root verb, חָרַם (charam, `{{H2763}}`). This verb and its nominal derivatives (e.g., חֵרֶם, cherem, `{{H2764}}`) define the concept of the "ban" or "devoted thing." Key concepts associated with this root include:
* **Divine Consecration/Dedication:** Setting something apart exclusively for God. This can be for holy use (e.g., items for the tabernacle/temple) or for destruction as an act of worship and judgment.
* **Utter Destruction:** Specifically in the context of holy war, where cities, their inhabitants, and possessions were completely destroyed and forbidden to be plundered by the Israelites. This was an act of obedience to God's command and a recognition of His absolute sovereignty over life and land. Examples include Jericho ([[Joshua 6]]) and Ai ([[Joshua 8]]).
* **Irrevocability:** Once something was placed under the *cherem*, it could not be redeemed or used for common purposes; it was irrevocably dedicated to God, often unto destruction.
* **Divine Judgment:** The *cherem* often served as an instrument of God's judgment against the wickedness of the Canaanite nations ([[Deuteronomy 20:16-18]]).
Other related concepts might include:
* **Holiness (קֹדֶשׁ, qodesh, `{{H6944}}`):** While *cherem* is distinct from general holiness, both involve setting something apart for God. *Cherem* often represents a more extreme, often destructive, form of dedication.
* **Covenant Obedience:** The implementation of the *cherem* was a direct command from Yahweh, testing Israel's obedience and trust in Him.
### Theological Significance
The unique name of Chorem, derived from the concept of the *cherem*, carries significant theological weight despite its singular occurrence.
1. **Divine Sovereignty and Judgment:** The name serves as a subtle, yet powerful, reminder of God's absolute sovereignty over the land of Canaan and its inhabitants. The *cherem* was a divine prerogative, an expression of God's justice against the depravity of the Canaanite nations and His holiness. The existence of a city named "Devoted" or "Banned" within Israelite territory could have served as a perpetual witness to this aspect of God's character and His historical acts of judgment.
2. **The Nature of Consecration:** Chorem highlights that not only people and objects but also places can be "devoted" to God. While often associated with destruction, the underlying principle is that something is set apart, made exclusive to Yahweh's purposes, whether for judgment or for special status within His plan.
3. **The Fulfillment of Promise and Warning:** As part of the tribal inheritance, Chorem signifies the fulfillment of God's promise to give the land to Israel. Yet, its name simultaneously carries a latent warning, reflecting the consequences of disobedience that brought the *cherem* upon the Canaanites. It implicitly reminds Israel that their continued possession of the land was contingent on their own faithfulness to the covenant, lest they, too, become subject to a form of divine banishment or judgment.
4. **Historical Memory:** The name likely preserved the memory of a significant event or characteristic associated with that location, possibly a place where the ban was enacted, or a site that bore the indelible mark of divine intervention.
### Summary
Chorem (חֳרֵם, `{{H2765}}`) is a unique proper noun, a place name appearing once in [[Joshua 19:38]] as a fortified city allotted to the tribe of Naphtali. Its profound significance stems directly from its derivation from the verbal root חָרַם (charam, `{{H2763}}`), meaning "to devote" or "to utterly destroy" in the context of the divine ban (*cherem*). The name "Chorem" thus signifies a place that was "devoted" or "set apart" for Yahweh, likely through an act of consecration or destruction. Theologically, Chorem serves as a subtle but potent reminder of God's absolute sovereignty, His righteous judgment against sin, and the exclusive nature of His claims over the land and its inhabitants. It implicitly points to the historical reality of the *cherem* in the conquest of Canaan and stands as a silent witness to the divine authority that shaped Israel's inheritance.
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