Zorah

Zo´rah (hornets’ town), a town reckoned as in the plain of Judah (Jos 15:33), but inhabited by Danites (Jos 19:41), not far from Eshtaol, and chiefly celebrated as the birthplace of Samson (Jdg 13:2; Jdg 13:25; Jdg 18:2; Jdg 18:8; Jdg 18:11; comp. 2Ch 11:10; Neh 11:29). 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.

A city of Danites within the limits of Judah, 2Ch 11:12, called also Zoreah, Jos 15:33 19:40. Samson was a Zorite, or Zorathite, Jdg 13:2,25 1Ch 2:54 4:2. It is now recognized in a secluded mountain village called Surah, on the edge of the hills north of Bethshemesh.\par 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, Jdg 14:5-7 .\par

Zo’rah. (hornet). A town in the allotment of the tribe of Dan, Jos 19:41. It is previously mentioned, Jos 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. 2Ch 11:10. It is perhaps identical with the modern village of Sur’ah.

ZORAH or ZOREAH. Jos 15:33. Colonized by Kirjath Jearim (1Ch 2:53; 1Ch 4:2). Now Sur’ah: ten Roman miles from Eleutheropolis toward Nicopolis. Originally of Judah; in the shephelah or low hills (Jos 15:33). Subsequently assigned to Dan (Jos 19:40) as a suitable border fortress, just below the brow of a sharp conical tell at the shoulder of the ranges which form the northern side of the wady Ghurab. Manoah’s residence (Jdg 13:2; Jdg 13:25) and Samson’s birthplace was between Zorah and Eshtaol.

Possibly Manoah commanded the military post at "the camp of Dan" (the place of encampment of the Danite emigrants: Jdg 18:8; Jdg 11-12) between Zorah and Eshtaol; this post was a check on the Philistines, in force at Timnath three miles off (Jdg 14:1-4; Jdg 15:6). Here was the family burial place (Jdg 16:31). The charge that Samson was not to drink wine nor strong drink, nor eat what came of the vine, was the severer test of faith because Zorah was famous for its vines; the valley of Sorek and the Philistine plain generally abounded in choice vines (Jdg 15:5; Jdg 16:4; Hebrew Gen 49:11; Isa 5:2; Jer 2:21). Fortified by Rehoboam as being at the entrance of the valley, which is one inlet from the great lowland (2Ch 11:10); reinhabited by the men of Judah after the return from Babylon. (Neh 11:29 ZAREAH.)

Zorah (zô’rah), and Zoreah (zô’re-ah), hornet’s town, and Zareah (zâ’re-ah), Neh 11:29, a town in the low country of Judah—afterward assigned to Dan, Jos 15:33; Jos 19:41; the birthplace and burialplace of Samson. Jdg 13:2; Jdg 13:25; Jdg 16:31. From Zorah the Danites sent spies to search the land for a place of inheritance. Jdg 18:2. Zorah was fortified by Rehoboam, 2Ch 11:10, and inhabited after the return from captivity. Neh 11:29. The place still exists as Surah, 13 miles west of Jerusalem.

ZORAH.—A town allotted to Judah, according to Jos 15:33; but elsewhere spoken of as Danite (Jos 19:41, Jdg 18:2-3; Jdg 18:11); specially noted as the home of Samson (Jdg 13:2; Jdg 13:25), who was buried between Zorah and Eshtaol (Jdg 16:21). It was fortified by Rehoboam (2Ch 11:10), and is mentioned in Neh 11:29 as peopled by Judahites after the Captivity. The gentilic name Zorathites occurs in 1Ch 2:52; 1Ch 4:2 and prob. 1Ch 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.

zō´ra (צרעה, cor‛āh; Σαραά, Saraa): A city on the border of Dan, between Eshtaol and Ir-shemesh (Jos 19:41); the birthplace of Samson (Jdg 13:2, Jdg 13:25); near here too he was buried (Jdg 16:31); from here some Danites went to spy out the land (Jdg 18:2, Jdg 18:11). In Jos 15:33 it is, with Eshtaol, allotted to Judah, and after the captivity it was reinhabited by the “children of Judah” (Neh 11:29, the King James Version “Zareah”). It was one of the cities fortified by Rehoboam (2Ch 11:10). It is probable that it is mentioned under the name Tsarkha along with Aialuna (Aijalon; 2Ch 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.