Zorah

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

ZORAH . A town allotted to Judah, according to   Joshua 15:33; but elsewhere spoken of as Danite (  Joshua 19:41 ,   Judges 18:2-3;   Judges 18:11 ); specially noted as the home of Samson (  Judges 13:2;   Judges 13:25 ), who was buried between Zorah and Eshtaol (  Judges 16:21 ). It was fortified by Rehoboam (  2 Chronicles 11:10 ), and is mentioned in   Nehemiah 11:29 as peopled by Judahites after the Captivity. The gentilic name Zorathites occurs in   1 Chronicles 2:52;   1 Chronicles 4:2 and prob.   1 Chronicles 2:54 (where read Zorathites for Zorites ). Zorah is the modern Sur‘ah on the northern side of Wâdy es-Surar (the Valley of Sorek ) opposite ‘Ain Shems (Beth-shemesh), which lies on the southern side.

People's Dictionary of the Bible

Zorah ( Zô'Rah ), and Zoreah ( Zô'Re-Ah ), Hornet'S Town, and Zareah ( Zâ'Re-Ah ),  Nehemiah 11:29, a town in the low country of Judah—afterward assigned to Dan,  Joshua 15:33;  Joshua 19:41; the birthplace and burialplace of Samson.  Judges 13:2;  Judges 13:25;  Judges 16:31. From Zorah the Danites sent spies to search the land for a place of inheritance.  Judges 18:2. Zorah was fortified by Rehoboam,  2 Chronicles 11:10, and inhabited after the return from captivity.  Nehemiah 11:29. The place still exists as Surah, 13 miles west of Jerusalem.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

A city of Danites within the limits of Judah,  2 Chronicles 11:12 , called also Zoreah,  Joshua 15:33   19:40 . Samson was a Zorite, or Zorathite,  Judges 13:2,25   1 Chronicles 2:54   4:2 . It is now recognized in a secluded mountain village called Surah, on the edge of the hills north of Bethshemesh.

The road followed by Samson in going to Timnath leads down through rocky gorges, very likely to be haunted by wild beasts. It was here that he slew the lion, without the help of any weapon,  Judges 14:5-7 .

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

 1 Chronicles 4:2). Now Sur'ah: ten Roman miles from Eleutheropolis toward Nicopolis. Originally of Judah Shephelah  Judges 13:25) and Samson's birthplace was between Zorah and Eshtaol.

 Judges 11-12) between Zorah and Eshtaol;;  Judges 16:4;  Isaiah 5:2;

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Zo'rah. (Hornet). A town in the allotment of the tribe of Dan,  Joshua 19:41. It is previously mentioned,  Joshua 15:33, in the catalogue of Judah, among the places in the district of the Shefelah (Authorized Version, "Zoreah"), It was the residence of Manoah and the native place of Samson. It is mentioned among the places fortified by Rehoboam.  2 Chronicles 11:10. It is perhaps identical with the modern village of Sur'Ah .

Easton's Bible Dictionary

 Joshua 19:41 Judges 18:2 Joshua 15:33 Judges 13:2,25 2 Chronicles 11:10

Holman Bible Dictionary

 Joshua 19:41 Joshua 15:33 Judges 13:2 2 Chronicles 11:5-12

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(Heb. Tsorah', צָרְעָה , Hornet; Sept. Σαραά v.r. Σοράθ , Σαράλ , Σαρά , etc.; Josephus, Σαρασά , Ant. 5, 8, 12; Vulg. Saraa; A. V. "Zareah,"  Nehemiah 11:29; "Zoreah,"  Joshua 15:33), one of the towns near the border of the tribe of Dan ( Joshua 19:41), but really within-the limits of Judah, being in the north-western corner of the "valley district" ( Joshua 15:33). It is almost always mentioned in connection with Eshtaol (see also  Judges 13:25;  Judges 16:31;  Judges 18:2;  Judges 18:8;  Judges 18:11; and comp.  1 Chronicles 2:53). Zorah was the residence of Manoah and the native place of Samson. The place both of his birth and his burial is specified with a curious minuteness as "between Zorah and Eshtaol," "in Mahaneh-Dan" ( Judges 13:25;  Judges 11:31). In the genealogical records of 1 Chronicles ( 1 Chronicles 2:53;  1 Chronicles 4:2) the "Zareathites and Eshtaulites" are given as descended from (i.e. colonized by) Kirjathjearim. Zorah is mentioned among the places fortified by Rehoboam ( 2 Chronicles 11:10) and it was re-inhabited by the men of Judah after the return from the Captivity ( Nehemiah 11:29). In the Onomasticon ( S.V. Σαρδά and "Saara") it is mentioned as living some ten miles north of Eleutheropolis on the road to Nicopolis. By the Jewish traveler Hap-Parchi (Zunz, Benjamin Of Tud. 2, 441) it is specified as three hours south-east of Lydd. These notices agree in direction though in neither is the distance nearly sufficient with the modern village of Sur'ah which has been visited by Robinson (Bibl. Res. 3; 153); and Toblern (Dritte Wanzd. p.a18-183).

It lies just below the brow of, a sharp pointed conical hill at the shoulder of the ranges which there meet, and form the north side of the Wady Ghurab, the northernmost of the two branches which unite just below, Sir'ah, and form the great wady Surar. Near it are to be seen the remains of Zanoah, Bethshemesh, Timnai, there and other places more or less frequently mentioned with it in the narrative. Eshtaol, however, has not yet been identified. The position of Sir'ah at the entrance of the valley, which forms one of the inlets from the great low land, explains its fortification by Rehoboam. The spring is a short distance below the village" "a noble fountain" this was at the end of April "walled up square with large hewn stones and gushing over with fine water. As we passed on," continues Robinson, with a more poetical tone than is his wont, "we overtook no less than twelve women toiling upwards to the village, each with her; jar of water on her head. The village, the fountain, the fields, the mountain the females bearing water, all transported us back to ancient times, when in all probability the mother of Samson often in like manner visited the fountain and toiled homeward with her jar of water. See also Schwarz, Palestine, p. 102; Thomson, Land and Book, 2, 361; Porter, Handbook for Pal. p. 285; Tristram, Bible Places, p. 468. Consider Tent Work. 1, 274.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

zō´ra ( צרעה , cor‛āh  ; Σαραά , Saraa ): A city on the border of Dan, between Eshtaol and Ir-shemesh (  Joshua 19:41 ); the birthplace of Samson ( Judges 13:2 ,  Judges 13:25 ); near here too he was buried ( Judges 16:31 ); from here some Danites went to spy out the land ( Judges 18:2 ,  Judges 18:11 ). In  Joshua 15:33 it is, with Eshtaol, allotted to Judah, and after the captivity it was reinhabited by the "children of Judah" (  Nehemiah 11:29 , the King James Version "Zareah"). It was one of the cities fortified by Rehoboam ( 2 Chronicles 11:10 ). It is probable that it is mentioned under the name Tsarkha along with Aialuna (Aijalon;  2 Chronicles 11:10 ) in the Tell el - Amarna Letters (No. 265, Petrie) as attacked by the Khabiri.

It is the modern Ṣur‛a , near the summit of a lofty hill on the north side of the Wâdy es - Ṣurār (Vale of Sorek). The summit itself is occupied by the Mukam Nebi Samit, overhung by a lofty palm, and there are many remains of ancient tombs, cisterns, wine presses, etc., around. From here Eshû‛a (Eshtaol), ‛Ain Shems (Beth-shemesh) and Tibnah (Timnah) are all visible. See Pef , III, 158, Sh Xvii .

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblial Literature

Zo´rah (hornets' town), a town reckoned as in the plain of Judah (), but inhabited by Danites (), not far from Eshtaol, and chiefly celebrated as the birthplace of Samson (; ; ; ; ; comp. ; ). The site may still be recognized under the name of Surah, situated upon a spur of the mountains running into the plain north of Beth-shemesh.