Judges 18:12

Kiriath-jĕârim i.e. city of woods; cf. Joshua 9:17 P and 1 Samuel 6:21; 1 Samuel 7:1 f. Eusebius (Onom. 109, 27. 271, 40) places it 9 Roman miles from Jerusalem on the road to Lydda; hence it is generally identified with Ḳirjat el--enab, which is just this distance. The site would fit in well with the present narrative, making the first encampment a short day's march from the Danite seats. The identification cannot be regarded as certain; but there is more to be said for Ḳirjat el--enab than for -Erma, a ruined site to the S.W., which some prefer. -Erma has nothing whatever to do with jearim. The camp of Danis said to have been behind, i.e. west ofKiriath-jearim; contrast Judges 13:25, where it is placed between Zorah and Eshtaol. Local tradition may well have preserved the memory of this first halting-place in an expedition which involved a lasting effect upon the life of the district.