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Easton's Bible Dictionary
dug over, A town in the Shephelah or low hills of Judah
( Joshua
15:35 ), where the five confederated Amoritish kings were defeated by Joshua
and their army destroyed by a hailstrom ( Joshua
10:10 , 10:11
). It was one of the places re-occupied by the Jews on their return from the Captivity
( Nehemiah
11:30 ).
Hitchcock's Dictionary of Bible Names
strength of walls
Smith's Bible Dictionary
(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.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
a-ze'-ka, 'azekah:
A town of some importance in the Shephelah of Judah mentioned (Joshua 15:35) next
to Socoh. In Joshua 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 (Joshua 10:11) as the host fled "Yahweh cast down great stones
from heaven upon them unto Azekah, and they died." In 1 Samuel 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 Chronicles 11:9 it is mentioned as one of the frontier cities which Rehoboam
fortified and in Jeremiah 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 (Nehemiah 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; PEF,
III, 441.
E. W. G. Masterman
Tags:
azekah, bible commentary, bible history, bible reference, bible study, define, oshua, judah, town
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