Zorah

Zorah

צרעה
Shown within Israel
Alternate name	Tzorah
Location
Coordinates	31°46′30″N 34°59′07″E / 31.775086°N 34.98535°E / 31.775086; 34.98535

Coordinates: 31°46′30.31″N 34°59′7.26″E / 31.7750861°N 34.9853500°E / 31.7750861; 34.9853500 Zorah (Hebrew: צרעה‎‎) or Tzorah, perhaps "place of wasps," was a biblical town in the low country of Judah.

Location

Zorah was situated on the crest of a hill overlooking the valley of Sorek, and was fortified by Rehoboam (2 Chronicles 11:10). It has been identified with Sar'a, 23 kilometers west of Jerusalem near Nahal Sorek.

History

Zorah was mentioned together with Ajalon in the Amarna letters as a city attacked by the Apiru.

Zorah is probably the same as Zoreah (Joshua 15:33). In Joshua 19:41, Zorah is mentioned in the allotment of the Tribe of Judah, on the border with the Tribe of Dan. It was most likely the Danites who occupied Zorah: Judges 18:2 states:

"there was a certain man from Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah".

Zorah was Samson's birthplace (Judges 13:2), and near it he may be found in a grave (Judges 16:31).

Zorah is also the name of an Egyptian sun god which is in line with other sun-worshiping villages in the area, Eshtaol (valley of fire) and Beit Shemesh (house of sun).

The Palestinian village Sar'a was located in the presumed location of the ancient town. It was depopulated during the 1948 Arab–Israeli War.

A kibbutz is now located nearby at Tzora.

References

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Easton, Matthew George (1897). "^{article name needed}". Easton's Bible Dictionary (New and revised ed.). T. Nelson and Sons.