Zelzah

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

ZELZAH . In   1 Samuel 10:2 tells Saul that he will find ‘two men by Rachel’s sepulchre in the border of Benjamin at Zelzah .’ No such place is known to us, and the reference is strange after the definite mention of Rachel’s sepulchre. The LXX [Note: Septuagint.] does not regard it as a proper name, and tr. [Note: translate or translation.] ‘leaping furiously’; and the Vulgate reads ‘in the south.’ Neither of these can be correct. Possibly the Greek of the LXX [Note: Septuagint.] is a transliteration of some Heb. word, which was not understood and was then transformed into something significant in Greek. The meaning remains uncertain.

W. F. Boyd.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Zel'zah. (Shadow). A place named once only,  1 Samuel 10:2, as on the boundary of Benjamin, close to Rachel's sepulchre, five miles southwest of Jerusalem.

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

 1 Samuel 10:2. On Benjamin's boundary, close to Rachel's sepulchre. The first point of Saul's homeward journey after his being anointed by Samuel.

Morrish Bible Dictionary

City in Benjamin.  1 Samuel 10:2 . Not identified.

Holman Bible Dictionary

 1 Samuel 10:1-2

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(Heb. Tseltsach', צֵלְצִח , Shadow from the Sun, or, by reduplication from צָלִה , To Send; Sept. Ἁλλόμενος Μεγάλα , Vulg. Meridies ) , a place in the border of Benjamin, mentioned by Samuel when sending Saul home from Ramah: "Thou shalt find two men by Rachel's sepulcher, in the border of Benjamin, At Zelzah " ( 1 Samuel 10:2). Rachel's sepulcher stands on the side of the road leading from Bethlehem to Jerusalem, about a mile distant from the former. Westward of the sepulcher, in full view across the valley, and not much over half a mile distant, is the village of Beit Jala, which may be identical with Zelzah. The names bear considerable resemblance to each other and the position agrees with the sacred narrative (Wilson, Lands Of The Bible, 1,401). The Sept. rendering of Zelzah is remarkable. It makes it an expression of joy on the part of the men who announced the finding of the asses — "Thou shalt meet two men Leaping Violently. " But dean Stanley's remark on this is surely a rash criticism, that the Hebrew text "cannot be relied upon" ( Sin And Pal. p. 222). The Greek rendering in this case apparently rests upon a reading צלצל , which indicates a possible etymology of the Word=Double Shade. The Talmud has numerous explanations, the favorite one being that Zelzah was Jerusalem — "the shadow ( צל ) of God." Something of this kind seems to be at the basis of the rendering of the Vulg. The essential part of the name is thus rendered more closely congruent with that of the above Arabic village, and at the same time with that of ZELAH (See Zelah) (q.v.), which must have lain in the same vicinity. Rabbi Schwarz suggests an. other location less apposite ( Palest. p. 158). (See Saul).

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

zel´za ( צלצח , celcaḥ  ; ἁλλομένους μεγάλα , halloménous megála ): A place where Samuel told Saul he would meet two men with news that the asses were found. Its position is defined as "by Rachel's sepulchre, in the border of Benjamin" (  1 Samuel 10:2 ). It has been thought that the place of meeting was sufficiently indicated without the word becelcāḥ , which is translated "at Zelzah," and that this cannot therefore be a place-name. The Septuagint has "leaping mightily" or "in great haste" (Ewald) points to a different text. Whether the Greek can be so translated is also a question, as megala does not elsewhere occur as an adverb. Some corruption of the text is probable. The border of Benjamin may be roughly determined, but the tomb of Rachel is now unknown. No name like Zelzah has been recovered in the district. Smith ("Samuel," ICC , at the place) suggests that we should read "Zela" for "Zelzah" (צלע , cēlā‛ , for צלצח , celcaḥ ).