Original Word: אֲדָמָה
Part of Speech: Proper Name Location
Transliteration: Adamah
Pronunciation: ah-dah-MAH
Phonetic Spelling: (ad-aw-maw')
KJV: Adamah
NASB: Adamah
Word Origin: [the same as H127 (אֲדָמָה - land)]

1. Adamah, a place in Israel

Adamah

The same as 'adamah; Adamah, a place in Palestine -- Adamah.

see HEBREW 'adamah

Word Origin
from the same as adam
Definition
a city in Naphtali
NASB Translation
Adamah (1).

Geographical Setting

Adamah was a fortified town within the tribal allotment of Naphtali, situated in the northern reaches of Canaan. Together with neighboring cities such as Kedesh, Hazor, and Iron (Joshua 19:35-36), it lay near the upper Jordan Valley, a region marked by fertile soil, abundant water sources, and strategic trade routes that linked Phoenicia, Damascus, and the inland plains. Its elevation on gently rising terrain overlooking the Huleh Basin afforded both agricultural potential and military advantage.

Biblical Occurrence

“Adamah, Ramah, Hazor” (Joshua 19:36). This single mention occurs in the list of Naphtali’s fortified cities received by lot under Joshua’s leadership. The verse highlights the town’s inclusion among strongholds intended to secure Israel’s northern frontier after the conquest.

Historical Background

1. Conquest and Settlement. The distribution of cities in Joshua 19 underscores the orderly apportioning of Canaan to the tribes. Adamah’s fortification indicates pre-existing urban infrastructure that Israel either occupied or rebuilt, testifying to Joshua’s comprehensive military campaign and the Lord’s promise to settle His people in established towns (Deuteronomy 6:10-11).
2. Naphtali’s Role in Israel’s Story. Centuries later, Naphtali rallied under Deborah and Barak against Sisera (Judges 4:6-10). Although Adamah is not named in that narrative, the tribe’s collective memory of fortified towns would have contributed to its capacity for swift mobilization. Naphtali’s territory also features in prophetic hope: “the land of Naphtali… a light has dawned” (Isaiah 9:1-2), fulfilled when Jesus ministered in Galilee (Matthew 4:13-16).

Theological and Ministry Insights

• Covenant Fulfillment. Adamah’s listing confirms Yahweh’s faithfulness in granting Israel tangible real estate; every town name is a marker of covenant grace.
• Strategic Stewardship. Fortified cities like Adamah exemplify the balance of divine promise and human responsibility. While God handed over the land, Israel had to inhabit, guard, and cultivate it (Numbers 32:20-22).
• Foreshadowing Gospel Light. Though obscure, Adamah falls within the geographical arc later bathed in Christ’s ministry. The northern territory’s transformation—from tribal fringe to cradle of the Messiah’s public work—demonstrates God’s habit of turning overlooked places into epicenters of redemption.
• Encouragement for Contemporary Believers. Adamah’s silent testimony urges modern Christians to view small, seemingly insignificant contexts as potential staging grounds for God’s larger purposes.

Archaeological Considerations

Several sites have been proposed for Adamah, among them the ruins at Damiyeh or Tell ed-Damiye, located west of the Huleh Basin. Surface pottery from the Late Bronze and Iron Ages aligns with the settlement horizon of Joshua. While conclusive identification remains elusive, ongoing surveys sustain interest in Naphtali’s urban grid and trade networks.

Reflections for Faith and Practice

Adamah invites readers to remember that divine promises are anchored in real geography and history. Its solitary appearance in Scripture is enough to certify God’s meticulous attention to detail: every parcel of territory, every fortified wall, and every unnamed inhabitant forms part of His unfolding redemptive narrative. In pastoral ministry, Adamah can serve as a case study on the importance of local church presence in strategic but often neglected regions, trust in God’s faithfulness to supply secure dwellings, and hope that even the smallest community can participate in the account of salvation history.

וַאֲדָמָ֥ה ואדמה vaadaMah wa’ăḏāmāh wa·’ă·ḏā·māhInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts