The Hebrew word ʻĂthâk, represented by H6269, is a place name, Athach. Derived from an unused root meaning to sojourn, its definition is "lodging." It appears just 1 time in 1 unique verse, identifying a specific location in Palestine.
The sole appearance of H6269 is in a list of locations in 1 Samuel 30:30. In this verse, Athach is mentioned as one of the recipient cities alongside Hormah H2767 and Chorashan H3565. The context is a simple geographical listing, placing Athach within a known region of southern Palestine.
Two other place names are directly associated with H6269 as they appear in the same verse:
- H2767 Chormâh (Hormah): Meaning "devoted," Hormah is a place in Palestine mentioned with Athach in 1 Samuel 30:30. It appears in several other contexts, often related to military conflict with the Canaanites Numbers 21:3 and as part of territorial allotments Joshua 15:30.
- H3565 Kôwr ʻÂshân (Chorashan): Defined as "furnace of smoke," this place is also listed with Athach in 1 Samuel 30:30. The provided scripture limits its appearance to this single instance.
While not carrying significant theological weight on its own, the inclusion of H6269 serves a specific function within the biblical text.
- Historical Grounding: The mention of Athach provides geographical specificity, rooting the narrative of 1 Samuel in a real-world setting and demonstrating the text's attention to historical detail.
- Geographical Context: Its placement in a list with other known locations, such as Hormah H2767, helps to map the events of the chapter to a particular area of ancient Palestine.
- Root Meaning: The base definition of "lodging" or "to sojourn" hints at the nature of the location, although this is derived from an unused root and not expanded upon in the text.
In summary, H6269 is a minor but illustrative example of how the Bible uses specific place names. As Athach, its single mention in 1 Samuel 30:30 functions primarily as a geographical and historical marker. It contributes to the texture and grounded reality of the biblical account, demonstrating that even the most obscure references serve to build a cohesive and specific world for the narrative.
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