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HEBREW: 5825 hqze `Azeqah
NAVE: Azekah
EBD: Azekah
SMITH: AZEKAH
ISBE: AZEKAH
Azaz | Azazel | Azaziah | Azbasareth | Azbuk | Azekah | Azel | Azem | Azephurith | Azetas | Azgad

Azekah

In Bible versions:

Azekah: NET AVS NIV NRSV NASB TEV
a town in the western foothills of Judah

strength of walls
NETBible Maps: Map7 D3 ; Map8 F2 ; Map9 C1
Google Maps: Azekah (31° 42´, 34° 56´)

Hebrew

Strongs #05825: hqze `Azeqah

Azekah = "dug over"

1) a town in the lowlands of Judah

5825 `Azeqah az-ay-kaw'

from 5823; tilled; Azekah, a place in Palestine:-Azekah.
see HEBREW for 05823

Azekah [EBD]

dug over, a town in the Shephelah or low hills of Judah (Josh. 15:35), where the five confederated Amoritish kings were defeated by Joshua and their army destroyed by a hailstrom (10:10, 11). It was one of the places re-occupied by the Jews on their return from the Captivity (Neh. 11:30).

Azekah [NAVE]

AZEKAH, a town of Judah, Josh. 10:10, 11; 15:35; 1 Sam. 17:1; 2 Chr. 11:9; Neh. 11:30; Jer. 34:7.

AZEKAH [SMITH]

(dugover), a town of Judah, with dependent villages, lying in the Shefelah or rich agricultural plain. It is most clearly defined as being near Shochoh, (1 Samuel 17:1) but its position has not yet been recognized.

AZEKAH [ISBE]

AZEKAH - a-ze'-ka `azekah: A town of some importance in the Shephelah of Judah mentioned (Josh 15:35) next to Socoh. In Josh 10:10 the defeated kings of the Arnorites are described as flying before Joshua "by the way of the ascent of Beth-horon .... to Azekah, and unto Makkedah" and (verse 11) as the host fled "Yahweh cast down great stones from heaven upon them unto Azekah, and they died." In 1 Sam 17:1 it is recorded that before David's combat with Goliath, the Philistines "gathered together at Socoh, which belongeth to Judah, and encamped between Socoh and Azekah, in Ephes-dammin." In 2 Ch 11:9 it is mentioned as one of the frontier cities which Rehoboam fortified and in Jer 34:7 it is one of the two fortified cities remaining to Judah in the Shephelah which Nebuchadnezzar was besieging. "Azekah and the towns (margin, "daughters") thereof" is mentioned among the cities reoccupied by Jews returning after the Exile (Neh 11:30). In all the three last references the place is mentioned along with Lachish.

All the data suit Tell Zaqareyeh on the North side of the Vale of Elah (Wady es-Sunt) and some 3 miles Northwest of Socoh (Kh. Shuweikeh). This site, which was partially excavated by the Palestine Exploration Fund, is one of great natural strength. "The hill stands almost isolated, rising abruptly for almost 350 ft. above the Vale of Elah; .... to the West the fall is also very great, while to the South the tell is joined by a neck of land (about 100 ft. below the summit) to a hill behind." The summit is about 350 yds. by 150 yds., and is much larger than Tell el-Chesy (Lachish) (Bliss). Excavations showed that it was a very ancient site which had been powerfully fortified, and the rock under the city was excavated in a series of very extraordinary underground chambers which could be used as places of refuge. The site suits the narrative of Joshua's battle every well, as there is a long-used high route running North to South from the neighborhood of Ajalon. Its position as a frontier fortress is comparable with that of Lachish: the name Zakareyeh, seems to be a survival of Azekah. See PEFS, 1899, 10 ff; PEF, III, 441.

E. W. G. Masterman




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