Meaning
1. A place which formed one of the landmarks on the north boundary of the allotment of Judah. (Joshua 15:10) It is probably identical with the Thimnathah of (Joshua 19:43) and that again with the Timnath, or, more accurately, Timnathah, of Samson (Jude 14:1; Jude 14:2; Jude 14:5) and the Thamnatha of the Maccabees. The modern representative of all these various forms of the same name is probably Tibneh, a village about two miles west of Ain Shems (Beth-shemesh). In the later history of the Jews, Timnah must have been a conspicuous place. It was fortified by Bacchides as one of the most important military posts of Judea. 1 Macc. 9:50.
2. A town in the mountain district of Judah. (Joshua 15:57) A distinct place from that just examined.
3. Inaccurately written Timnath in the Authorized Version, the scene of the adventure of Judah with his daughter in-law Tamar. (Gen 38:12; Gen 38:13; Gen 38:14) There is nothing here to indicate its position. It may be identified either with the Timnah in the mountains of Judah No 23 or with the Timnathath of Samson [No 1 ].
