What is…
Kirjathaim

also known as: Kiriathaim , Kirja-Thaim and Kiryathaim

Hebrew: קֵרְיָתַיִם —transliteration: Qiryathayim —meaning: two cities; a double city

Kirjath = city

Kirjathaimh is the name of 2 biblical cities.

  1. Kirjathaim, a Levite city of refuge

    This Levitical city of refuge was located within the tribal land of Naphtali.

    and from the tribe of Naphtali:
    Kedesh in Galilee with its pasture lands, Hammon with its pasture lands, and Kiriathaim with its pasture lands. —1 Chronicles 6:76

    Q & A

  2. Kirjathaim, a city of Moab

    also known as: Kiriathaim , Shaveh Kiriathaim (Gen. 14:5), and Ataroth

    It was located east of the Jordan River and was an ancient city of the Emim (Genesis 14:5; Deuteronomy 2:9-10) inhabited by Moabites (land of Moab), and later by Amorites, and eventually Israelites.

    Sihon, king of Hesbon, was an Amorite leader mentioned in the Old Testament, king of Ashtaroth/Kirjathaim, who refused to let the Israelites pass through his country. He was defeated by Moses and the Israelites at the battle of Jahaz.

    But Sihon would not allow Israel to pass through his border. So Sihon gathered all his people and went out to meet Israel in the wilderness and came to Jahaz and fought against Israel. Then Israel struck him with the edge of the sword and took possession of his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, as far as the sons of Ammon; for the border of the sons of Ammon was Jazer. —Numbers 21:23–24

    In the time of Ezekiel (Ezekiel 25:9) it was one of the 4 cities which formed the “glory of Moab” (compare Jeremiah 48:1; 48:23).

    It has been identified with el-Kureiyat, 11 miles southwest of Medeba, on the south slope of Jebel Attarus, the ancient Ataroth.

    Q & A

Other place names beginning with Kir…

Article Version: October 9, 2025