AZEKAH (Jewish Encyclopedia)

From BibleWiki

A city in the Shephelah, or plain of Judah; about midway between Jerusalem and the Philistine boundary, in a southwestern direction; probably not far from Socoh or Shochoh (1Sam 17:1) (now Shuweikah) with which it is coupled (Josh 15:35). Its exact site has not been ascertained. Eusebius relates that a village, Ezekah, was to be found between Eluethe-ropolis and Elia.

Azekah existed before the conquest of Canaan by the Israelites. Joshua, having defeated the five kings at Gibeon, followed them up to Azekah (Josh 10:10f). The Philistine army lay between Shochoh and Azekah, when David fought Goliath (1Sam 17:1). Rehoboam fortified it (2Chr 11:9), and four centuries later, in the reign of Zedekiah, the Jews opposed Nebuchadnezzar's forces at Azekah (Jer 34:7). After the return from the Exile it was resettled by the tribesmen of Judah (Neh 11:30).