Places in the Bible Today:

Hereth

Data

Translated NamesHareth, Hereth
Typeforest
Geo Data KML (for Google Earth)
GeoJSON (for GIS applications)

3 Possible Identifications

  1. Kharas (modern): 40% confidence
    1. buildings at KharasKharas

  2. another name for Horesh (ancient): less than 10% confidence
    1. satellite view of the region around Khirbet KhureiseKhirbet Khureise

  3. Khirbet Khureise (modern): less than 10% confidence
    1. satellite view of the region around Khirbet KhureiseKhirbet Khureise

Verses (1)

1Sam 22:5

Linked Data Identifiers

SourceIdentifier
Logos FactbookHereth
OpenBible.info (2007)Hereth
OpenBible.infoa7df136 (Hereth)
TIPNRHereth@1Sa.22.5
UBS Names Databaseot ID_1172
WikipediaForest of Hereth (redirect)

Sources

  1. Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary (1992): Hereth (place)
  2. Baker Illustrated Bible Dictionary (2013): Hereth
  3. Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000): Hereth
  4. Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (2003)
  5. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1979): Hereth, Forest of
  6. IVP Old Testament Bible Background Commentary (2000): 1Sam 22:5
  7. New Interpreter’s Bible Dictionary (2009)
  8. Westminster Historical Atlas to the Bible (1956): Hareth, Forest of
  9. Zondervan Encyclopedia of the Bible (2010)
  10. Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary (2009): 1Sam 22:5

Confidence Trends over Time

This chart indicates how confidence in the identifications is changing over time. Each dot (connected by a dotted line) reflects the confidence of an identification over the preceding ten years (e.g., the 2009 dot reflects scholarship from 2000 to 2009), and the corresponding solid line reflects a best-fit line for the identification. Confidences that cluster near or below 0% indicate low confidence. Because of the small dataset, it's best to use this chart for general trends; if one identification is trending much higher than the others (in this case, Kharas), then you can probably have higher confidence in the identification. This chart only reflects the sources I consulted (listed above), not an exhaustive review of the literature.

Thumbnail Image Credits

IslamHalahla, Contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data 2019

About

This page attempts to identify all the possible locations where this biblical place could be. The confidence levels add up to less than 100%, indicating that the modern location is uncertain. It's best to think about the confidences in relative rather than absolute terms. Often they reflect different schools of thought, each confident in their identifications.