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Easton's Bible Dictionary
a fence; hedge, ( 1 Chronicles 4:18 ; RSV, Soco)=So'choh
( 1 Kings 4:10 ; RSV, Socoh), Sho'choh ( 1 Samuel 17:1 ; RSV, Socoh), Sho'co (
2 Chronicles 11:7 ; RSV, Soco), Sho'cho ( 2 Chronicles 28:18 ; RSV, Soco),
A city in the plain or lowland of Judah, where the Philistines encamped when they
invaded Judah after their defeat at Michmash. It lay on the northern side of the
valley of Elah (Wady es-Sunt). It has been identified with the modern Khurbet
Shuweikeh, about 14 miles south-west of Jerusalem. In this campaign Goliath was
slain, and the Philistines were completely routed.
Hitchcock's Dictionary of Bible Names
tents; tabernacles
Smith's Bible Dictionary
(bushy). ( 1 Chronicles 4:18 ) Probably one of the towns
called Socoh, in Judah, though which of the two cannot be ascertained.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
so'-ko (sokkhoh, "branches"), (sokho (in Chronicles only);
Socho, most usual, but many forms in Septuagint and in the King James Version:
Socoh, Shochoh, Shoco, Shocho):
(1) A city in the Shephelah of Judah mentioned along with Jarmuth, Adullam, Azekah, etc. (Joshua 15:35);
the Philistines "gathered together at Socoh, which belongeth to Judah, and encamped
between Socoh and Azekah" (1 Samuel 17:1); it is mentioned as one of the districts
from which Solomon drew his supplies (1 Kings 4:10, the King James Version "Sochoh");
the association of Socoh in this verse with Hepher is worth noticing in connection
with 1 Chronicles 4:18 ("Heber"). Soco (the King James Version "Shoco") was one
of the cities fortified by Rehoboam for the defense of Judah (2 Chronicles 11:7);
it was captured by the Philistines in the time of Ahaz (2 Chronicles 28:18). The
site is, without doubt, Khirbet esh Shuweikeh (Shuweikeh is a diminutive of Shaukeh,
"a thorn"), a rounded, elongated hilltop, showing clear traces of ancient city
walls. The situation is one of considerable natural strength on the south side
of the Vale of Elah just where the Wady ec Cur makes a sweep to the West and becomes
the Wady es Sunt. Like so many such ancient sites, the hill has very steep slopes
on 3 sides (South, West, and North), and is isolated from the ridge of higher
ground to the East by a narrow neck of lower ground. In the valley to the Southwest
is a plentiful spring. The site was known to Jerome in the 4th century. He described
it as 8 or 9 Roman miles from Eleutheropolis (Beit Jibrin) (PEF, III, 53, 125,
Sh XVII, BR, II, 21). The Sucathites (1 Chronicles 2:55) were probably inhabitants
of Soco.
(2) A city of Judah in the South, associated (Joshua 15:48) with Shamir and Jattir.
This is doubtless Khirbet Shuweikeh, a large ruin occupying a low hill, 10 miles
Southwest of Hebron; there are many caves and rock-cut cisterns as well as drafted
stones. Cheyne doubtfully locates the Socoh of 1 Kings 4:10 here. See PEF, 404,
410, Sh XXV; B R, I, 494.
E. W. G. Masterman
Tags:
bible commentary, bible reference, bible study, city in judah, define, history, khurbet shuweikeh, socoh
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