BAMAH bā’ mə (בָּמָה֒, H1195, high place). The exact etymology for this Heb. word is unknown, but the cognate form does appear in Ugaritic and Akkadian meaning the “back” of an animal or person (C. H. Gordon. Ugaritic Manual, §19. 332). Deuteronomy 33:29, which refers to the back of one’s enemies, is an example of this meaning attested in the cognate languages. Elsewhere the reference usually is to Canaanite or Israelite places of worship originally located on some height or hill. The verbs associated with these high places would seem to bear this meaning out, for the men “went up” to the bamah from Samuel’s home town (1 Sam 9:13, 14, 19) and “came down” from it (9:25). The knoll itself could be the altar or an altar could be built upon it. Often the bamah was located in the town (1 Kings 13:32; 2 Kings 17:29) and even at the gate of Jerusalem (23:8). Several examples of these bamoth are known from archeological evidence. A large oval platform measuring 8x10 yards and standing 6 yards high has been found at Megiddo. A flight of steps led up to the platform and sacrifices were obviously offered upon this bamah which was built in the middle of the third millennium b.c. Similar examples are known from Hazar (13th cent. b.c.), Nahariyah near Haifa (18th or 17th cent. b.c.) and at Malhah, SE of Jerusalem (7th-6th cent. b.c.). The reference in Ezekiel 20:29 seems to be a play on the words bā (“to come, go”) and mah (“what”?) in order to scornfully ask; “what (mah) is the purpose of this coming (ba’) to the high place?” See High Place.

Bibliography' C. C. McCown, “Hebrew High Places and Cult Remains”; JBL LXIX (1950), 205-219; W. F. Albright, “The High Place in Ancient Israel,” Supplement to VT IV (1957), 242-258.