Original Word: בַּעַל תָּמָר
Part of Speech: Proper Name Location
Transliteration: Ba`al Tamar
Pronunciation: bah-ahl tah-mahr
Phonetic Spelling: (bah'-al taw-mawr')
KJV: Baal-tamar
NASB: Baal-tamar
Word Origin: [from H1167 (בַּעַל - owner) and H8558 (תָּמָר - palm trees)]

1. possessor of (the) palm-tree
2. Baal-Tamar, a place in Israel

Baal-tamar

From ba'al and tamar; possessor of (the) palm-tree; Baal-Tamar, a place in Palestine -- Baal-tamar.

see HEBREW ba'al

see HEBREW tamar

Word Origin
from baal and tamar
Definition
"possessor of palms," a place near Gibeah
NASB Translation
Baal-tamar (1).

בַּ֫עַל תָּמָר proper name, of a location (possessor of palms; or Baal of Tamar ?) Judges 20:33, near Gibeah.

Location and Geography

Baal Tamar lay in the tribal territory of Benjamin, somewhere west or north-west of Gibeah (modern Tell el-Fūl). The context suggests an open area suitable for troop deployment, bordered by groves of palms and rough hill country. Most scholars place it in the central Benjamin plateau, a few kilometers from Bethel, though no excavated site has yet been proven. Its proximity to the main north–south ridge route would have made it a natural staging ground for forces moving against Gibeah.

Singular Biblical Occurrence (Judges 20:33)

“Then all the men of Israel rose up from their places and arrayed themselves in battle formation at Baal Tamar, and the Israelites in ambush charged from their positions in the plain of Geba.” (Judges 20:33)

The verse falls within the decisive third engagement of Israel’s civil war with the tribe of Benjamin. After two costly defeats, the confederated tribes sought the LORD, received assurance of victory, and executed a two-pronged plan: an open line of battle at Baal Tamar and a hidden ambush near Gibeah.

Role in the Benjaminite Conflict

1. Tactical Pivot: By mustering at Baal Tamar, the main body of Israel drew Benjamin’s forces out of their fortified city. This feigned vulnerability mirrored the earlier conquest strategy at Ai (Joshua 8), reflecting deliberate military planning under divine direction.
2. Moral Accountability: The location marks the moment when national judgment against the atrocities at Gibeah gained visible momentum. Baal Tamar thus stands as a historical witness to the principle that covenant communities must confront internal sin (cf. 1 Corinthians 5:12-13).
3. Corporate Unity: Eleven tribes, earlier fragmented during the era of the judges, achieved rare unanimity here. The gathering at Baal Tamar illustrates how righteous indignation and obedience to God’s revealed will can overcome tribal rivalries.

Symbolic Echoes of Palm Imagery

Palms in Scripture evoke several themes:
• Righteousness flourishing—“The righteous will flourish like a palm tree” (Psalm 92:12).
• Festal rejoicing and victory—palms waved at the Feast of Booths (Leviticus 23:40) and as Jesus entered Jerusalem (John 12:13).

Stationing at a place associated with palms subtly contrasts the future hope of righteousness and peace with the sordid backdrop of Gibeah’s sin. Though Baal Tamar was a war site, the palm motif anticipates restoration after judgment.

Historical and Cultural Insights

• Growing Canaanite Influence: The compound name reflects lingering Canaanite religious vocabulary (“Baal”). By Judges 20 Israel had not fully purged syncretism, underscoring the broader theme of spiritual compromise in the era (Judges 2:11-13).
• Tribal Topography: Benjamin’s small allotment contained strategic passes and fertile valleys. Control of places like Baal Tamar influenced commerce and defense, explaining Benjamin’s fierce resistance.
• Legal Resolution: The assembly at Mizpah (Judges 20:1-11) functioned as a national court; Baal Tamar became its executive arm. Israel’s judiciary, legislature, and military acted in concert under God’s covenant law.

Archaeological Notes and Proposed Identifications

While unconfirmed, three main candidates surface:

1. Ras et-Tawil, two kilometers west of Gibeah, noted for ancient terraces and palm indicators.
2. Khirbet Tell el-Tamar, near modern Bir Nabala, lying beside a natural open plain.
3. A site north of Bethel, aligning with early Christian tradition.

Artifacts recovered in these zones date to the Late Bronze and Iron I periods, matching the era of the Judges, though none bear inscriptions naming the site.

Theological Observations

• Divine Patience and Holiness: Israel’s first two defeats exposed the need for humble dependence. Victory at Baal Tamar came only after fasting, weeping, and consulting the LORD (Judges 20:26-28).
• Providence in Strategy: Scripture affirms God’s sovereignty without negating human planning. The ambush sprung from Baal Tamar illustrates how faithful strategy and divine guidance operate together (Proverbs 21:31).
• Echoes of Corporate Intercession: Phinehas the grandson of Aaron ministered before the ark during this campaign (Judges 20:28), linking Baal Tamar’s battlefield to sanctuary intercession—an Old Testament anticipation of the ultimate High Priest (Hebrews 7:25-27).

Ministry and Discipleship Reflections

1. Confronting Sin in the Community: Baal Tamar challenges churches to address internal wrongdoing biblically, balancing compassion with firm discipline (Matthew 18:15-17).
2. Reliance on God Amid Strategy: Leaders must pray earnestly yet also plan wisely; neither passivity nor self-reliance honors God.
3. Hope Beyond Judgment: Even scenes of civil strife point forward to the unity and peace secured in Christ, who gathers people “from every tribe and tongue” (Revelation 7:9)—again with palms in their hands.

Summary

Though mentioned only once, Baal Tamar occupies a crucial intersection of geography, military history, moral accountability, and theological insight. It reminds readers that God’s people, when purified and united under His word, can stand, fight, and ultimately flourish like the palm for which the site was named.

תָּמָ֑ר תמר tā·mār taMar tāmārInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts