Ezra 2:25

Kirjath-arim, Chephirah, and Beeroth Gibeonite cities, see Josh, Joshua 9:17 -Now their cities were Gibeon, and Chephirah, and Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim" (R.V.) -Kirjath-arim" ( Kiriath-arim R.V.) called in Nehemiah 7:29 Kiriath-jearim, or -the city of the woods". The spelling in our verse is probably due to an early error in the text. Its former name was Baalah (Joshua 15:9). It was assigned to Judah and lay on the border of Judah and Benjamin. The ark rested here after it had been restored by the Philistines (1 Samuel 6:21; 1 Samuel 7:1), and David brought it from here to Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 13:5-6; 2 Chronicles 1:4; 2 Samuel 6:2, -Baale Judah," cf. Joshua 18:14). From the description given in Joshua 15:8-11 it must have been situate about 9 miles N.W. of Jerusalem. Chephirah, modern Kefireh, a little N. of Kiriath.

Beeroth = -wells", the native place of the two Benjamite assassins of Ishbosheth, Baanah and Rechab (2 Samuel 4:2), now known as Bireh 12 miles N. of Jerusalem on the road to Nablûs. It is here that according to tradition the child Jesus was first missed by Joseph and Mary (Luke 2:44).