### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **Chôrônayim**, represented by `{{H2773}}`, refers to a place in Moab known as **Horonaim**. Its name suggests a "double cave-town." It appears **4 times** across **4 unique verses**, exclusively within prophecies of judgment against Moab.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{H2773}}` is consistently portrayed as a location of anguish and ruin. The prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah use it as a focal point for the cries of a nation under divine judgment. The "way of **Horonaim**" is a path where a cry of destruction is raised up [[Isaiah 15:5]], and a "voice of crying" is heard directly from **Horonaim**, signifying "spoiling and great destruction" [[Jeremiah 48:3]]. The geography is used symbolically, where the "going down of **Horonaim**" is the place where enemies hear this cry of destruction, marking a path of defeat [[Jeremiah 48:5]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words define the context of judgment surrounding Horonaim:
* `{{H7667}}` **sheber** (destruction): This word for ruin or breach is directly linked with Horonaim in three of its four appearances, as in the "cry of **destruction**" [[Isaiah 15:5]].
* `{{H6818}}` **tsaʻăqâh** (crying, cry): This term for a shriek or cry of anguish is heard from Horonaim [[Jeremiah 48:3]] and in its descent [[Jeremiah 48:5]], emphasizing the audible suffering in the city.
* `{{H4174}}` **môwrâd** (going down): Described as a descent or steep place, the "**going down** of Horonaim" [[Jeremiah 48:5]] stands as a route of military defeat and sorrow.
* `{{H4124}}` **Môwʼâb** (Moab): Horonaim is a city within the territory of **Moab**, the subject of these prophecies of judgment [[Isaiah 15:5]].
### Theological Significance
The significance of `{{H2773}}` is rooted in its role as a geographical marker for divine judgment.
* **A Source of Cries:** Horonaim is not merely a place being destroyed; it is depicted as a source from which the sounds of destruction emanate. Prophecies specify that a "voice of **crying**" and "a **cry** of destruction" will come from Horonaim ([[Jeremiah 48:3]], [[Jeremiah 48:5]]).
* **A Path of Defeat:** The phrases "the way of Horonaim" and "the going down of Horonaim" transform the location into a symbol of a journey into ruin and defeat for the people of Moab ([[Isaiah 15:5]], [[Jeremiah 48:5]]).
* **Part of a Regional Judgment:** The cries from Horonaim are part of a larger regional lament that stretches from Heshbon to Zoar, illustrating the comprehensive nature of the prophesied desolation upon Moab [[Jeremiah 48:34]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H2773}}` **Horonaim** is more than a name on a map; it is a biblical emblem of sorrow and judgment. Though mentioned only a few times, its every appearance is tied to the themes of destruction, spoiling, and the cries of a defeated people. It serves as a potent reminder within the prophetic texts that divine judgment is both specific and total.
TRV