The Hebrew phrase ʻAshtᵉrôth Qarnayim, represented by H6255, is the name of a place located east of the Jordan. Its name means "Ashtaroth of (the) double horns," which is noted as a symbol of a deity. This place name appears only 1 time in 1 unique verse in the entire Bible.
The sole biblical reference to H6255 is in the context of an ancient military campaign. In Genesis, the account states that Chedorlaomer and the kings H4428 allied with him came and smote H5221 the Rephaims H7497 in Ashteroth Karnaim Genesis 14:5. This event situates the location as the site of a significant battle involving a coalition of kings against the early inhabitants of the land.
Several related words help clarify the context of the event at Ashteroth Karnaim:
- H7497 râphâʼ (giant, Rapha, Rephaim(-s)): This identifies the people who were defeated at Ashteroth Karnaim. The Rephaims were a formidable people, often referred to as giants Genesis 14:5.
- H5221 nâkâh (to strike, kill, smite): This verb describes the decisive action taken by Chedorlaomer's forces against the Rephaims at this location, indicating a complete defeat Genesis 14:5.
- H368 ʼÊymîym (Emims): An early tribe described as terrors. They were smitten in the same campaign as the Rephaims, showing the regional scale of the conflict mentioned in the narrative Genesis 14:5.
- H2104 Zûwzîym (Zuzims): Defined as prominent, this was another aboriginal tribe defeated during the same military action, further mapping out the scope of this ancient war Genesis 14:5.
The historical significance of H6255 is tied directly to its single appearance in scripture.
- Site of Ancient Conflict: Its primary role is to mark the location where the Rephaims H7497 were conquered by an invading force of kings H4428, establishing it as a place of historical importance in the patriarchal era Genesis 14:5.
- Connection to Giant Clans: The location is explicitly linked with the Rephaims H7497, a people described as giants. The same passage also mentions the defeat of the Emims H368, who were also accounted as giants H7497 in other texts Deuteronomy 2:10-11.
- Symbol of Pagan Worship: The name "Ashtaroth of (the) double horns" itself points to the location being a center for the worship of a deity, likely the Canaanite goddess Ashtaroth, linking the geography to the religious practices of the land's earliest inhabitants.
In summary, ʻAshtᵉrôth Qarnayim H6255 is a specific place name, not a general term. Its importance in the biblical text comes from its singular mention in Genesis 14:5, which identifies it as the site of a key battle where the Rephaims were defeated. The name itself suggests a background of pagan worship, while the narrative context firmly places it within the geography and conflicts of the early patriarchal age.
TRV