Dict: smith - HAMATH

smith:

HAMATH - H>@ - (fortress), the principal city of upper Syria, was situated in the valley of the Orontes, which it commanded from the low screen of hills which forms the water-shed between the source of the Orontes and Antioch. The Hamathites were a Hamitic race, and are included among the descendants of Canaan. kjv@Genesis:10:18) Nothing appears of the power of Hamath until the time of David. (2 Samuel kjv@8:9) Hamath seems clearly to have been included in the dominions of Solomon. (Kings:4:21-24) The "store-cities" which Solomon "built in Hamath," ( kjv@2Chronicles:8:4) were perhaps staples for trade. In the Assyrian inscriptions of the time of Ahab (B.C. 900) Hamath appears as a separate power, in alliance with the Syrians of Damascus, the Hittites and the Phoenicians. About three-quarters of a century later Jeroboam the Second "recovered Hamath." ( kjv@2Kings:14:28) Soon afterwards the Assyrians took it, ( kjv@2Kings:18:34 kjv@2Kings:19:13) etc., and from this time it ceased to be a place of much importance. Antiochus Epiphanes changed its name to Epiphaneia. The natives, however, called it Hamath even in St. Jerome’s time, and its present name, Hamah , is but slightly altered from the ancient form.

HAMATHZOBAH - H>@ - (fortress of Zobah), ( kjv@2Chronicles:8:3) has been conjectured to be the same as Hamath. But the name Hamath
- Zobah would seem rather suited to another Hamath which was distinguished from the "Great Hamath" by the suffix "Zobah."

HAMATHITE, THE - H>@ - one of the families descended from Canaan, named last in the list. kjv@Genesis:10:18; kjv@1Chronicles:1:16)