Joshua 19:35

And the fenced cities Note the expression and the number of them in this locality. "It was no doubt good policy to protect the northern frontier by a belt of fortresses, as the south was protected by the fenced cities of Judah." The Speaker's Commentaryin loc. Ziddimand Zerare unknown.

Hammath Afterwards a Levitical city, ch. Joshua 21:32, called Hammon in 1 Chronicles 6:76. The name comes from a root signifying "to be warm," and hints at the hot springs which existed here. "At the southern extremity of the strip of level ground, on which the ancient city of Tiberias stood, are some warm fountains, which have a temperature of 144 Fahr. with an extremely salt and bitter taste, and a strong smell of sulphur. These fountains are mentioned by Pliny, -Ab Occidente Tiberiade aquis calidissalubri," and frequently by Josephus, under the name Ammaus= -Warm Baths." This is probably a Greek form of the Hebrew Hammath, a town of Naphtali." Porter's Handbook, ii. p. 423.

Rakkath ("bank," "shore") is by the Rabbins identified with Tiberias. For Chinnerethsee above, note on ch. Joshua 11:2.