2 Chronicles 11:7 — Word Study
WLCוְאֶת־ בֵּֽית־ צ֥וּר וְאֶת־ שׂוֹכ֖וֹ וְאֶת־ עֲדֻלָּֽם׃
BSABeth-zurBêyth Tsûwr [house of the rock] SocoSôwkôh [in the lowlands] AdullamʻĂdullâm [a notable town in Palestine]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וְאֶת־ | and the object marker | Conjunction, particle |
| בֵּֽית־ | Beth | Noun proper |
| צ֥וּר | Zur | Noun proper |
| וְאֶת־ | and the object marker | Conjunction, particle |
| שׂוֹכ֖וֹ | Socoh | Noun proper |
| וְאֶת־ | and the object marker | Conjunction, particle |
| עֲדֻלָּֽם׃ | Adullam | Noun proper |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Beth-zur, Soco, Adullam, |
| KJV | And Beth-zur, and Shoco, and Adullam, |
| ASV | And Beth-zur, and Soco, and Adullam, |
| YLT | and Beth-Zur, and Shocho, and Adullam, |
| WEB | Beth Zur, Soco, Adullam, |
| BBE | And Beth-zur and Soco and Adullam |
All translations agree on the names of the towns listed in this verse.
The verse consists of a simple list of towns, emphasizing their importance in the context of Rehoboam's fortifications.
5 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Ellicott, Cambridge & more — read them ›
clause
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — 2 Chronicles 11:7
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — Rehoboam Fortifies Citiesgenerated
2 Chronicles 11:7 lists towns that Rehoboam fortified in Judah, emphasizing his efforts to secure the kingdom against potential threats. This verse highlights the importance of these locations in the defense strategy of the southern kingdom during a time of division.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joshua 15:58 | Halhul, Beth-zur, Gedor, |
| 2 | Joshua 15:35 | Jarmuth, Adullam, Socoh, Azekah, |
| 3 | Joshua 12:15 | the king of Libnah, one; the king of Adullam, one; |
| 4 | Joshua 15:35 | Jarmuth, Adullam, Socoh, Azekah, |
| 5 | 1 Samuel 22:1 | So David left Gath and took refuge in the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and the rest of his father’s household heard about it, they went down to him there. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 7 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — בֵּית־צ֥וּר, beit-tsurgenerated
The first word, בֵּית־צ֥וּר (beit-tsur), means 'house of the rock'. It is a proper noun referring to a specific location in Judah, known for its fortifications. The name indicates a place of strength or refuge, aligning with its role as a fortified city.
The second word, שׂוֹכ֖וֹ (so.Kho), refers to Soco, another town in the lowlands. Its geographical significance is noted, as it was situated in a strategic area, enhancing the defenses of Rehoboam's kingdom. The name is associated with lushness, suggesting a fertile region.
Lastly, עֲדֻלָּֽם ('a.du.Lam) refers to Adullam, a notable town where David sought refuge. This town's historical context adds depth to its mention, as it was a site of significance during David's time.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
In this study, we reference the Berean Standard Bible (BSB), which lists the towns as Beth-zur, Soco, Adullam.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The structure of the verse is straightforward, listing three noun phrases: בֵּית־צ֥וּר (Beth-zur), שׂוֹכ֖וֹ (Socoh), and עֲדֻלָּֽם (Adullam). Each of these towns is introduced by the conjunction וְאֶת־ (ve.'Et), which serves as an object marker.
The verse employs a simple list structure, emphasizing the towns as key locations in the narrative.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
2 Chronicles 11:7 lists three towns in Judah that Rehoboam fortified: Beth-zur, Soco, and Adullam. These towns were important for the defense of the kingdom, showing Rehoboam's efforts to secure his territory.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Beth-zur, meaning 'house of the rock', served as a fortified city, reflecting its strategic importance in Judah.
Soco and Adullam are both towns fortified by Rehoboam, illustrating his military strategy to protect Judah.
Adullam is noted as the site where David hid from Saul, adding historical depth to its mention in this verse.
These towns were part of Rehoboam's efforts to strengthen his kingdom against threats, emphasizing the need for fortified cities during his reign.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What does it mean for a city to be fortified, and how does that apply to my life today?
- In what ways can I strengthen my own defenses against challenges I face?
- How can understanding the historical context of these towns deepen my appreciation for the biblical narrative?
- What lessons can I learn from Rehoboam's actions in fortifying these cities?
Commentators on this verse — 5 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on 2 Chronicles 11:7 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAnd Bethzur, and Shocho, and Adullam. All in the tribe of Judah, of which see Joshua 15:35.
Read John Gill on 2 Chronicles 11 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryHe built even Bethlehem, and Etam, and Tekoa, No JFB commentary on these verses.
Read Robert Jamieson on 2 Chronicles 11 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(7) Beth-zur.—Beit-sûr; a ruin midway between Urtâs and Hebron (Joshua 15:58). Shoco.—Heb., Sôcô; es Suweikeh, in Wady Sumt, three and a-half hours south-west of Jerusalem (Joshua 15:35; 1 Samuel 17:1). Adullam.—Joshua 15:35. Perhaps Aid-el-Mieh.
Read Charles John Ellicott on 2 Chronicles 11 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges7. Beth-zur] Represented by the ruin Burj Ṣ ?ûr to the north of Hebron. Cp. Joshua 15:58. Bädeker, p. 136. Shoco] R.V. Soco. The cities hitherto mentioned were situated in the Hill Country, but the position of the Soco here mentioned and Adullam is uncertain. Two places bore the name Soco or Socoh, one situated in the Shephelah (Joshua 15:35; 1 Samuel 17:1, R.V.), and one in the Hill Country (“the mountains,” Joshua 15:48). For Adullam cp. Joshua 15:35; 1 Chronicles 11:15 (note on the cave of Adullam).
Read Cambridge on 2 Chronicles 11 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible7. Beth-zur… Soco… Adullam — See Joshua 15:35; Joshua 15:58.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on 2 Chronicles 11 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
Beth-zur, Soco, Adullam,
Beth Zur, Soco, Adullam,
Beth-zur, Soco, Adullam,
Beth Zur, Soco, Adullam,
Tyndale line
And Beth-zur, and Shoco, and Adullam,
And Beth-zur, and Soco, and Adullam,
And Beth-zur, and Soco, and Adullam,
And Beth-zur, and Shocho, and Adullam,
And Beth-zur, and Shoco, and Adullam,
Strictly literal
and Beth-zur, and Soco, and Adullam,
and Beth-Zur, and Shocho, and Adullam,
and Beth-Zur, and Shocho, and Adullam,
And Beth-zur, and Socho, and 'Adullam,
Beth Zur, Soko, Adullam,
From the Latin
And Bethsur, and Socho, and Odollam,
Simplified
Beth-zur, Soco, Adullam,
And Beth-zur and Soco and Adullam
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text lists the same towns: וְאֶת־ בֵּֽית־ צ֥וּר וְאֶת־ שׂוֹכ֖וֹ וְאֶת־ עֲדֻלָּֽם׃. The Septuagint has some correspondence but does not provide a full match, indicating variations in translation.
וְאֶת־ בֵּֽית־ צ֥וּר וְאֶת־ שׂוֹכ֖וֹ וְאֶת־ עֲדֻלָּֽם׃
4 of the 7 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in 2 Chronicles 11:7
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).
אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
base
H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
853 'eth ayth
apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of
entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more
definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or
namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).
see HEBREW for 0226
אֵת (et) — [Obj.].
sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative
Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
HC/To — Conjunction · particleHC/To
בֵּית־צוּר n.pr.loc. in Judah (house of rock)
base
H1049 בֵּית־צוּר
1049 Beyth Tsuwr bayth tsoor'
from 1004 and 6697; house of (the) rock; Beth-Tsur, a place
in Palestine:--Beth-zur.
see HEBREW for 01004
see HEBREW for 06697
בֵּית־צוּר (bet tsur) — Beth-zur.
§ Beth-zur = "house of the rock"
a place in Judah
N-proper — Noun properHNpl
Beth
Occurs frequently as the appellation for a house, or dwelling-place, in such compounds as the words immediately following:
the most general word for a house or habitation. It has the special meaning of a temple or house of worship Beth is more frequently employed in compound names of places than any other word.
House, forms a part of many compounds names of places, and sometimes means the place or dwelling; and at others the temple. This word becomes Beit in modern Arabic.
בֵּית־צוּר n.pr.loc. in Judah (house of rock)
base
H1049 בֵּית־צוּר
1049 Beyth Tsuwr bayth tsoor'
from 1004 and 6697; house of (the) rock; Beth-Tsur, a place
in Palestine:--Beth-zur.
see HEBREW for 01004
see HEBREW for 06697
בֵּית־צוּר (bet tsur) — Beth-zur.
§ Beth-zur = "house of the rock"
a place in Judah
HNpl — Noun properHNpl
zur (tsur "rock"):
(1) A prince or chief (Nu 25:15; 31:8) of Midian, father of the woman slain with Zimri by Phinehas. Jos 13:21 describes him as one of the princes of Sihon, but the reference there is regarded as a gloss.
(2) An inhabitant of Gibeon (1Ch 8:30; 9:36), to be connected probably, according to Curtis, with "Zeror" of 1Sa 9:1.
Zur
Rock. (1.) One of the five Midianite kings whom the Israelites defeated and put to death (Num. 31:8).
(2.) A Benjamite (1 Chr. 8:30).
(a rock). Father of Cozbi, (Numbers 25:15) and one of the five princes of Midian who were slain by the Israelites when Balaam fell. (Numbers 31:8) (B.C. 1451.) Son of Jehiel, the founder of Gideon. (1 Chronicles 8:30; 9:36), (B.C. after 1445.)
A Midianitish prince, whose daughter was slain by Phinehas, Nu 25:15-18, and who was himself subsequently slain in war with the Israelites, Jos 13:21.
אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).
אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
base
H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
853 'eth ayth
apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of
entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more
definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or
namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).
see HEBREW for 0226
אֵת (et) — [Obj.].
sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative
Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
HC/To — Conjunction · particleHC/To
שׂוֹכֹה (Sowkoh) refers to a name for two locations in Judah, described as a town in both the lowlands and the hill-country. The name is derived from a root meaning 'bushy.' Additionally, a man named Soco is mentioned in 1 Chronicles 4:18. The lexicons provide various spellings for the name, including Shocho and Sochoh.
שׂוֹכֹה, שׂוֹכוֹ n.pr.loc. in Judah
in Shephelah
in hill-country
base
H7755 שׂוֹכֹה, שׂוֹכוֹ
7755 Sowkoh so-ko'
or Sokoh {so-ko'}; or Sowkow {so-ko'}; from 7753; Sokoh or
Soko, the name of two places in Palestine:--Shocho, Shochoh,
Sochoh, Soco, Socoh.
see HEBREW for 07753
שׂוֹכֹה, שֹׂכֹה (s.vo.khoh) — Socoh.
§ Shocho or Shochoh or Sochoh or Shoco or Socoh = "bushy"
a town in the lowlands of Judah
שׂוֹכֹה (s.vo.khoh) — Socoh.
§ Shocho or Shochoh or Sochoh or Shoco or Socoh = "bushy"
a town in the mountain district of Judah
שׂוֹכֹוֹ (s.vo.khoh) — Soco.
A man of the tribe of Judah(?) living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ch.4.18;
son of: Heber (H2268I)
§ Shocho or Shochoh or Sochoh or Shoco or Socoh = "bushy"
1) a town in the lowlands of Judah
2) a town in the mountain district of Judah
N-proper — Noun properHNpl
the name of two towns in the tribe of Judah. In the district of the Shefelah. (Joshua 15:35; 1 Samuel 17:1; 2 Chronicles 11:7; 8:18) In the time of Eusebius it bore the name of Socchoth, and lay between eight and nine Roman miles from Eleutheropolis, on the road to Jerusalem. It may be identified with esh-Shuweikeh , in the western part of the mountains of Judah. From this village probably came Antigonus of Soco, who lived about the commencement of the third century B.C. Also a town of Judah, but in the mountain district. (Joshua 15:48) It has been discovered about 10 miles southwest of Hebron; bearing, like the other Socoh, the name of esh-Shuweikeh .
tents; tabernacles
אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).
אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
base
H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
853 'eth ayth
apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of
entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more
definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or
namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).
see HEBREW for 0226
אֵת (et) — [Obj.].
sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative
Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
HC/To — Conjunction · particleHC/To
עֲדֻלָּם (Adullam) refers to an ancient Canaanite city in Palestine, associated with the tribe of Judah. The name is thought to mean 'justice of the people.' It is noted as the location of the cave where David sought refuge. The word may derive from a related term, but the exact connection is not detailed.
עֲדֻלָּם n.pr.loc. old Canaanite city
base
H5725 עֲדֻלָּם
5725 `Adullam ad-ool-lawm'
probably from the passive participle of the same as 5724;
Adullam, a place in Palestine:--Adullam.
see HEBREW for 05724
עֲדֻלָּם (a.dul.lam) — Adullam.
Adullam = "justice of the people"
a town of the Canaanites allotted to Judah and lying in the lowlands; site of the cave where David hid
Also named: a.dul.la.mi (עֲדֻלָּמִי "Adullamite" H5726)
N-proper — Noun properHNpl
a-dul'-am (`adhullam):
(1) A city, with dependencies, and in ancient times having a king, mentioned five times in the Old Testament, each time in a list with other cities (Jos 12:15; 15:35; 2Ch 11:7; Mic 1:15; Ne 11:30). In the list of 31 kings whom Joshua smote, Adullam follows Hormah, Arad, Libnah, and precedes Makkedah. Among the 14 Judahite cities of the first group in "the lowland" Adullam is mentioned between Jarmuth and Socoh. In the list of 15 cities fortified by Rehoboam it appears between Socoh and Gath. Micah gives what may be a list of cities concerned in some Assyrian approach to Jerusalem; it begins with Gath, includes Lachish, and ends with Mareshah and…
Adullam
One of the royal cities of the Canaanites, now ‘Aid-el-ma (Josh. 12:15; 15:35). It stood on the old Roman road in the valley of Elah (q.v.), which was the scene of David’s memorable victory over Goliath (1 Sam. 17:2), and not far from Gath. It was one of the towns which Rehoboam fortified against Egypt (2 Chr. 11:7). It was called “the glory of Israel” (Micah 1:15).
The Cave of Adullam has been discovered about 2 miles south of the scene of David’s triumph, and about 13 miles west from Bethlehem. At this place is a hill some 500 feet high pierced with numerous caverns, in one of which David gathered together “every one that was in distress, and every one that…
(justice of the people), Apocr. ODOLLAM, a city of Judah int he lowland of the Shefelah, (Joshua 15:35) the seat of a Canaanite king, (Joshua 12:15) and evidently a place of great antiquity. (Genesis 38:1,12,20) Fortified by Rehoboam, (2 Chronicles 11:7) it was one of the towns reoccupied by the Jews after their return from Babylon, (Nehemiah 11:30) and still a city in the time of the Macabees. 2Ma 12:38 Adullam was probably near Deir Dubban , five or six miles north of Eleutheropolis. The limestone cliffs of the whole of that locality are pierced with extensive excavations, some one of which is doubtless the "cave of…
An ancient city in the plain of Judah, southwest of Jerusalem, Ge 38:1 Jos 15:35. Its king was slain by Joshua, Jos 12:15. It was one of the cities rebuilt and fortified by Rehoboam, 2Ch 11:7 Mic 1:15, and was reoccupied by the Jews after the captivity, Ne 11:30.
When David withdrew from Achish, king of Gath, he retired to the "cave of Adullam," 1Sa 22:1 2Sa 23:13. The location of this cave, however, is uncertain. Tradition places it in the hill country, about…