Original Word: אַלַּמֶּלֶךְ
Part of Speech: Proper Name Location
Transliteration: Allammelek
Pronunciation: al-lam-MEH-lek
Phonetic Spelling: (al-lam-meh'-lek)
KJV: Alammelech
NASB: Allammelech
Word Origin: [from H427 (אַלָּה - oak) and H4428 (מֶלֶך - king)]

1. oak of (the) king
2. Allammelek, a place in Israel

Alammelech

From 'allah and melek; oak of (the) king; Allammelek, a place in Palestine -- Alammelech.

see HEBREW 'allah

see HEBREW melek

Word Origin
from allah and melek
Definition
"an oak of (the) king," a place in Asher
NASB Translation
Allammelech (1).

אַלַּמֶּלֶךְ proper name, of a location in Asher ( = אַלַּת מֶלֶח? so Thes MV) Joshua 19:26 (Baer ׳אֲלַמּ).

Name and Meaning

Allammelek is commonly understood as “the king’s oak,” suggesting either a prominent tree that marked the site or royal ownership of the surrounding estate. In the Ancient Near East, noteworthy trees could serve as meeting places, landmarks, or symbols of covenant, so the name hints at a location of public significance.

Textual Occurrence

The town is named a single time in Scripture, within the description of Asher’s inheritance:

“ ‘Allammelech, Amad, and Mishal. On the west the border touched Carmel and Shihor-libnath’ ” (Joshua 19:26).

Though brief, the mention sets Allammelek among nine localities that defined the coastal‐slope territory allotted to the tribe of Asher.

Location and Archaeology

The exact site has not been conclusively identified, yet most proposals situate Allammelek on the western flank of Mount Carmel, a few miles from the Mediterranean shoreline. The proximity to Carmel and to the stream Shihor-Libnath points to fertile lowlands well suited for agriculture and viticulture. This fits the broader portrait of Asher as a tribe blessed with rich produce (Genesis 49:20; Deuteronomy 33:24). Pottery scatters and ruins at Khirbet el-Melek or nearby tells have been suggested, but no consensus has been reached.

Historical Setting

1. Settlement Period

Joshua 19 records the orderly distribution of Canaan following Israel’s conquest. Allammelek’s inclusion demonstrates God’s faithfulness in granting every tribe a defined inheritance (Joshua 21:43-45).
2. Tribal Era and the Judges

Although Asher failed to drive out all the Canaanites (Judges 1:31-32), the mention of interior towns like Allammelek indicates an initial foothold beyond the coast. Deborah later notes Asher’s tendency to “remain at the seashore” (Judges 5:17), implying that territories such as Allammelek, slightly inland, were not always fully secured.
3. Monarchy and Later History

No further biblical narrative centers on the site, but Allammelek lay within the northern kingdom after the division. Positioned near Phoenician trade routes, the area likely came under strong Tyrian influence, aligning with references to Asherite cooperation with Sidon (1 Kings 5:1-12).

Cultural and Economic Context

The coastal plain near Carmel produced olives, grain, and wine. If the toponym indeed recalls a royal plantation, Allammelek may have served as an estate supplying levies to the monarchy, whether Israelite or later Phoenician. The symbolic “oak of the king” would therefore evoke stability, abundance, and covenant oversight, resonating with prophetic imagery of trees representing righteous rulership (Isaiah 61:3).

Biblical-Theological Themes

• Covenant Faithfulness: Allammelek testifies to the meticulous fulfillment of God’s promise that each tribe would receive land “according to their divisions” (Joshua 13:7).
• Divine Provision: Nestled in fertile territory, the town embodies the blessing pronounced on Asher, “May he dip his foot in oil” (Deuteronomy 33:24).
• Human Responsibility: Asher’s partial occupation warns against complacency. Possessing an inheritance is not the same as fully claiming it—a lesson underscored by the tribe’s later marginal role in national affairs.

Lessons for Ministry Today

1. Appreciate Locality: Just as Allammelek’s single verse anchors a real community in God’s redemptive map, every congregation today occupies a God-ordained place of witness.
2. Steward the Blessing: Abundant resources, like Asher’s fertile land, are given for service, not self-indulgence (1 Timothy 6:17-19).
3. Complete the Mission: The tribe’s incomplete conquest challenges believers to press on until Christ’s commission is fully obeyed (Matthew 28:18-20).

Summary

Allammelek, hidden in one verse yet rich in implication, reminds readers that no detail of Scripture is incidental. It stands as a marker of divine promise kept, human responsibility in possession, and the ongoing call to faithful stewardship of every inheritance the Lord provides.

וְאַֽלַמֶּ֥לֶךְ ואלמלך vealamMelech wə’alammeleḵ wə·’a·lam·me·leḵInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts