### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **Râmâh**, represented by `{{H7414}}`, is the name given to several places in Palestine. It appears 37 times across 35 unique verses, often serving as a key geographical marker in biblical events. Its primary definition is simply Ramah, identifying it as a location central to many significant moments in Israel's history.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, Ramah is most prominently known as the home of the prophet Samuel ([[1 Samuel 7:17]], [[1 Samuel 25:1]]). It was to his house in Ramah that Elkanah and Hannah returned [[1 Samuel 1:19]], and it was there that Samuel judged Israel and built an altar to the LORD [[1 Samuel 7:17]]. The location also served as a military and political flashpoint; Baasha, king of Israel, built up Ramah to prevent passage to Asa, king of Judah [[1 Kings 15:17]]. Later, the prophet Jeremiah depicted Ramah as a place of profound sorrow, where a voice of "lamentation, and bitter weeping" was heard as Rachel wept for her children [[Jeremiah 31:15]]. It was also from Ramah that Jeremiah was released after being taken captive with the exiles of Jerusalem and Judah [[Jeremiah 40:1]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several locations and words are frequently associated with Ramah, highlighting its geographical and narrative context:
* `{{H1390}}` **Gibʻâh** (Gibeah, the hill): Often mentioned in close proximity to Ramah, these two cities are listed together in warnings and travel narratives ([[Isaiah 10:29]], [[Hosea 5:8]], [[Judges 19:13]]).
* `{{H1008}}` **Bêyth-ʼÊl** (Beth-el): Ramah is located between Bethel and Mount Ephraim, placing it in a historically significant region [[Judges 4:5]].
* `{{H1129}}` **bânâh** (to build): This verb is central to the account of Baasha fortifying Ramah as a strategic outpost against Judah ([[1 Kings 15:17]], [[2 Chronicles 16:1]]).
* `{{H1004}}` **bayith** (a house): Ramah is repeatedly identified as the location of Samuel's house, which served as his base of operations, his family home, and his final resting place ([[1 Samuel 7:17]], [[1 Samuel 25:1]]).
### Theological Significance
The significance of Ramah in the biblical account is multifaceted, marking pivotal moments in Israel's story.
* **A Center of Prophetic Authority:** As the home and burial place of Samuel, Ramah was a hub of divine guidance. David fled to Samuel in Ramah for safety [[1 Samuel 19:18]], and Samuel returned there after anointing David as king [[1 Samuel 16:13]].
* **A Symbol of National Division:** The conflict between Baasha of Israel and Asa of Judah centered on the fortification of Ramah, illustrating the deep schism between the northern and southern kingdoms ([[1 Kings 15:17]], [[2 Chronicles 16:1]]).
* **A Place of Sorrow and Exile:** Ramah is immortalized by Jeremiah's prophecy of Rachel weeping, transforming it into a symbol of maternal grief and national loss [[Jeremiah 31:15]]. Its use as a marshalling point for captives on their way to Babylon further cements its association with the tragedy of exile [[Jeremiah 40:1]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H7414}}` Ramah is far more than a simple place name. It functions as a crucial setting for the life and ministry of the prophet Samuel, a strategic point of conflict between the divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah, and a powerful emblem of the sorrow and suffering of the exile. Its presence in scripture marks moments of divine guidance, political strife, and profound national lamentation.
TRV