arimathea Summary and Overview

a "city of the Jews" (Luke 23:51), the birthplace of Joseph in whose sepulchre our Lord was laid (Matt. 27:57, 60; John 19:38). It is probably the same place as Ramathaim in Ephraim, and the birthplace of Samuel (1 Sam. 1:1, 19). Others identify it with Ramleh in Dan, or Rama (q.v.) in Benjamin (Matt. 2:18).

(heights). #Mt 27:57; Lu 23:51; Joh 19:38| St. Luke calls it "a city of Judea." It is identified by many with the modern Ramleh.

ARIMATHE'A (heights), a town in Judaea, and the home of Joseph, who begged the body of Jesus. Matt 27:57; Mark 15:43; Luke 23:51; John 19:38. An old tradition places it at the modern Ramleh, but this is generally discredited. Some identify it with Ramah; others, with less probability, with Renthieh, 10 miles east of Joppa. See Ramah.

(Matthew 27:57). The birthplace or abode of the rich man Joseph, who, by Pilate's leave, which he "boldly" craved, casting away the "fear" which had previously kept him from open discipleship (Mark 15:43; John 19:38), buried our Lord's body in his own "new tomb" at Jerusalem. Arimathea, a "city of the Jews" (Luke's vague expression for the Gentiles, to whom no more precise information seemed needful: Luke 23:51) is possibly identical with Ramah, Samuel's birthplace, called Armathaim in the Septuagint (1 Samuel 1:1; 1 Samuel 1:19); but many associate it with Ramleh, on the road from Jaffa to Jerusalem.