חֲמָת, חֲמַת proper name, of a location (√ dubious; Thes MV and others derive from חָמָה, חֲמָת = fortress, or (see RS^{Semitic i, 140}), sacred enclosure, temenos, µim¹, compare Hal^{JAS 7 ème Sér. x, 392}, Lag^{BN 82, 156}; but no certainty that name is Shemitic; Arabic , Assyrian Amattu, Dl^{PA 275 ff.}Prov 174); — modern „amaâ, on el-±A±ƒi (Orontes), 38 hours (approximately 115 miles) north of Damascus, see Bd^{Pal 398 f.} It had a king, תֹּעִי, in David's time 2 Samuel 8:9 = 1 Chronicles 18:9, and in 8th cent. B.C. 2 Kings 19:13 = Isaiah 37:13; gods of its own 2 Kings 17:30; 2 Kings 18:34 = Isaiah 36:19; gave its name to land (limits unknown) ׳רִבְלָה בְּאֶרֶץ ח 2 Kings 23:33; 2 Kings 25:21; Jeremiah 39:5; Jeremiah 52:9,27, compare 2Chronicles 8:4; contained Israel exiles Isaiah 11:11; furnished colonists for Samaria 2 Kings 17:24 (compare 2 Kings 17:30 above) after being conquered by Sargon, (COT 2 Kings 17:24; 2 Kings 18:34 compare Isaiah 10:9). It is called great Hamath by Amos 6:2 (חֲמַת רַבָּה, חֲמַת֯ only here). ׳ח is mentioned with דַּמֶּשֶׂק, צֹר, צִידוֺן in prophecy against land Hadrach (חַדְרָךְ) Zechariah 9:2, compare Jeremiah 49:23. Often in phrase ׳(עַדֿ) לְבאֹ ח = the entrance to H., i.e. the approach to H., as territorial limit Judges 3:3; usually as denoting (ideal) northern limit of Israel territory Joshua 13:5; Numbers 13:21; Numbers 34:8; Amos 6:14; 1 Kings 8:65 2Chronicles 7:8; 2 Kings 14:25; 1 Chronicles 13:5; חֲמָ֑תָה 1 Chronicles 18:3; צובָה ׳ח2Chronicles 8:3, and הֵשִׁיב לִיחוּדָה ׳אֶתדַּֿמֶּשֶׂק וְאֶתחֿ 2 Kings 14:28; so also Ezekiel 47:48: ׳גְּבוּל ח Ezekiel 47:17, compare V:16 b + V:16 a (strike out Co); ׳לְבוֺא ח Ezekiel 48:1, compare Ezekiel 47:20; ׳אֶליַֿד ח Ezekiel 48:1.