Almon Diblathaim

Almon Diblathaimah (Hebrew: עַלְמֹן דִּבְלָתָיְמָה) was one of the places the Israelites stopped at during the Exodus. By the name "Almon Diblathaimah" it is referred to only in Numbers 33:46 and 47, in a list of stopping-points during the Exodus.^[1] It is usually considered the same place as Beth-diblathaim of Jeremiah 48:22, mentioned in the oracle against Moab.^[2]^[3]

The suffix-he may be read as a locative, for "Almon toward-Diblathaim," in support of which is the Mesha Stele's ". ובת . דבלתן | ובת . בעלמען, and beth-Diblathan and beth-Baal-M'on" and Jeremiah's mention of "Beth-diblathaim . . . and beth-M'on". Baal M'on (Baalmon in some versions) is orthographically identical to the "in Almon" of MT Num. 33:46, and the Peshitta reads Baal M'on in Numbers 33, which suggests the reading "Baalmon toward-Diblathaim". The Talmud agrees that the final he is a locative suffix:^[a]

For it was taught: Nehemiah says, "Every word which requires a lamed-prefix [i.e. 'toward'], the Bible [sometimes instead] suffixed a he"; and a teaching of the House of Ishmael, "As in the case of Elim-ah, Mahanaim-ah, Mitzraim-ah, Diblathaim-ah . . ."^[4]

The Septuagint, however, does not transcribe a suffix-he: Γελμὼν Δεβλαθαίμ.

^ T. K. Cheyne; J. Sutherland Black, eds. (1901) [1899]. "Almon-Diblathaim". Encyclopaedia Biblica: A Critical Dictionary of the Literary, Political, and Religious History, the Archaeology, Geography, and Natural History of the Bible. Vol. 1, A–D. New York: The Macmillan Company.
^ ". . . apparently the same as Beth-Diblathaim." T. K. Cheyne; J. Sutherland Black, eds. (1901) [1899]. "Almon-Diblathaim". Encyclopaedia Biblica: A Critical Dictionary of the Literary, Political, and Religious History, the Archaeology, Geography, and Natural History of the Bible. Vol. 1, A–D. New York: The Macmillan Company.
^ J. D. Douglas; Merrill C. Tenney (3 May 2011). Zondervan Illustrated Bible Dictionary. Harper Collins. p. 51. ISBN 978-0-310-49235-1.
^ "Yevamot 13b:6". www.sefaria.org. Retrieved 2022-06-17. Printers have seen fit to insert the normal forms inline: "Elim, Elimah, Mahanaim, Mahanaimah . . ." but these are not original.

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[1] T. K. Cheyne; J. Sutherland Black, eds. (1901) [1899]. "Almon-Diblathaim". Encyclopaedia Biblica: A Critical Dictionary of the Literary, Political, and Religious History, the Archaeology, Geography, and Natural History of the Bible. Vol. 1, A–D. New York: The Macmillan Company.

[cb_almon-diblathaim-2] ". . . apparently the same as Beth-Diblathaim." T. K. Cheyne; J. Sutherland Black, eds. (1901) [1899]. "Almon-Diblathaim". Encyclopaedia Biblica: A Critical Dictionary of the Literary, Political, and Religious History, the Archaeology, Geography, and Natural History of the Bible. Vol. 1, A–D. New York: The Macmillan Company.

[DouglasTenney2011-3] J. D. Douglas; Merrill C. Tenney (3 May 2011). Zondervan Illustrated Bible Dictionary. Harper Collins. p. 51. ISBN 978-0-310-49235-1.

[5] "Yevamot 13b:6". www.sefaria.org. Retrieved 2022-06-17. Printers have seen fit to insert the normal forms inline: "Elim, Elimah, Mahanaim, Mahanaimah . . ." but these are not original.

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