The Hebrew word Rûwmâh, represented by H7316, is defined as height and identifies Rumah, a place in Palestine. It appears 1 time in 1 unique verse in the Bible. Its sole function is to provide a specific geographical location tied to the lineage of a king of Judah.
The single appearance of H7316 is in the historical record of King Jehoiakim's ascent to the throne. The text specifies the king's maternal ancestry, noting that his mother, Zebudah, was "the daughter of Pedaiah of Rumah" 2 Kings 23:36. This use grounds the royal family in a tangible, named location, adding a layer of detail to the account of the king who began to reign H4427 at twenty-five years of age.
Several related words provide the context for Rumah's only mention:
- H3079 Yᵉhôwyâqîym (Jehovah will raise; Jehojakim, a Jewish king): The mention of Rumah is entirely dependent on its connection to the lineage of this king of Judah, whose reign was a significant period before the Babylonian captivity Jeremiah 37:1.
- H2080 Zᵉbîydâh (giving; Zebidah, an Israelitess): As the mother of King Jehoiakim, her identity is directly linked to her father from Rumah, making her the bridge between the location and the royal throne 2 Kings 23:36.
- H6305 Pᵉdâyâh (Jah has ransomed; Pedajah, the name of six Israelites): He is the individual identified as being "of Rumah," and as the maternal grandfather of a king, his origin is noted as part of the official record 2 Kings 23:36.
- H517 ʼêm (a mother): The word is central to the verse, as it is through the king's mother that the town of Rumah is introduced into the biblical narrative 2 Kings 23:36.
While a minor detail, the inclusion of H7316 carries significance by underscoring key principles in the biblical record.
- Historical Precision: Mentioning a specific town like Rumah demonstrates the text's concern for detailed and accurate record-keeping, grounding the larger narrative of Judah's monarchy in verifiable genealogical facts.
- Maternal Ancestry: In a record that often focuses on paternal lines, specifying the hometown of the king's maternal grandfather, Pedaiah, affirms the importance of the mother's H517 heritage in the royal lineage of Judah.
- Context for Judgment: The verse identifies the family of Yᵉhôwyâqîym H3079, a king whose reign was marked by disobedience and judgment Jeremiah 36:29. The precise details of his origins, including the reference to Rumah, serve as a factual anchor to this pivotal and consequential era.
In summary, H7316 is a geographical marker whose importance is derived entirely from its context. As "Rumah," it serves a single, specific purpose: to identify the hometown of King Jehoiakim's maternal family. Its inclusion illustrates the value placed on historical and genealogical detail within the biblical narrative, providing a small but concrete piece of information that roots the story of Judah's kings in a specific time and place.
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