Anathoth @ the name of one of the cities of refuge, in the tribe of Benjamin Joshua:21:18). The Jews, as a rule, did not change the names of the towns they found in Palestine; hence this town may be regarded as deriving its name from the goddess Anat. It was the native place of Abiezer, one of David's "thirty" ( 2Samuel:23:27), and of Jehu, another of his mighty men ( 1Chronicles:12:3). It is chiefly notable, however, as the birth-place and usual residence of Jeremiah Jeremiah:1:1Jeremiah:11:21-23Jeremiah:29:27 ; 32:7-9). It suffered greatly from the army of Sennacherib, and only 128 men returned to it from the Exile Nehemiah:7:27; Ezra:2:23). It lay about 3 miles north of Jerusalem. It has been identified with the small and poor village of 'Anata, containing about 100 inhabitants.
