Zorah: A City of the Tribe of Dan or Possibly the Tribe of Judah
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Zorah is a significant city mentioned in the Bible, primarily associated with the tribe of Dan, though there are indications it may also have connections with the tribe of Judah. It is located in the Shephelah, the lowland region of ancient Israel, and holds historical and theological importance due to its association with several biblical narratives.

Biblical References and Historical Context

Zorah is first mentioned in the context of the allotment of land to the tribes of Israel. In Joshua 19:41, Zorah is listed as part of the inheritance of the tribe of Dan: "The territory of their inheritance included Zorah, Eshtaol, Ir-shemesh" . This indicates its initial association with Dan, one of the twelve tribes of Israel.

However, the city's connection to the tribe of Judah is suggested in other passages. In Joshua 15:33, Zorah is mentioned among the cities in the lowland region allotted to Judah: "In the lowland: Eshtaol, Zorah, Ashnah" . This dual association may reflect historical shifts in territorial control or overlapping tribal boundaries.

Zorah in the Narrative of Samson

Zorah is most famously known as the birthplace of Samson, one of the judges of Israel. Judges 13:2 introduces Manoah, Samson's father, as a man from Zorah: "Now there was a man from Zorah named Manoah, from the clan of the Danites, whose wife was barren and had no children" . The narrative of Samson, which spans Judges 13-16, highlights Zorah as a backdrop for the miraculous birth and exploits of this Nazirite judge, who was called by God to begin the deliverance of Israel from the Philistines.

Geographical and Archaeological Insights

Zorah is identified with the modern site of Tel Tzora, located near the Sorek Valley. The geographical setting of Zorah, on the border of the hill country and the coastal plain, made it a strategic location in ancient times. Its proximity to Philistine territory is significant in understanding the context of the Samson narratives, as the Philistines were a constant threat to the Israelites during this period.

Archaeological excavations at Tel Tzora have uncovered remains from various periods, including the Iron Age, which corresponds to the time of the Judges. These findings provide insights into the material culture and historical context of the region during the biblical era.

Theological Significance

Zorah's role in the biblical narrative, particularly in the account of Samson, underscores themes of divine intervention, human weakness, and the struggle for deliverance from oppression. Samson's life, marked by both extraordinary strength and personal failings, serves as a complex illustration of God's sovereignty and the consequences of disobedience.

The city's mention in the allotments of both Dan and Judah may also reflect the fluidity and complexity of tribal identities and territories in ancient Israel. This dual association invites reflection on the broader narrative of Israel's history and the unfolding of God's promises to His people.

In summary, Zorah is a city of considerable importance in the biblical record, serving as a focal point for the account of Samson and as a testament to the dynamic history of the tribes of Israel. Its legacy continues to be a subject of interest for biblical scholars and archaeologists alike.
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Joshua 15:33
And in the valley, Eshtaol, and Zoreah, and Ashnah,
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Joshua 19:41
And the coast of their inheritance was Zorah, and Eshtaol, and Irshemesh,
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Library

Tiglath-Pileser iii. And the Organisation of the Assyrian Empire ...
... Adullam, Gath, Mareshah, Ziph, Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah, Zorah, Ajalon, Hebron ... Noah
build a tower and a city, He draws ... came in time to form a tribe by themselves ...
/.../chapter iitiglath-pileser iii and the.htm

Resources
What does the Bible say about the hornet? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Dan in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Subtopics

Zorah

Zorah: A City of the Tribe of Dan or Possibly the Tribe of Judah

Zorah: Fortified by Rehoboam

Zorah: Re-Populated After the Captivity

Zorah: Representatives of the Tribe of Dan Sent From, to Spy out the Land With a View to Its Conquest

Zorah: The City of Samson

Related Terms

Eshtaol (7 Occurrences)

Esh'ta-ol (6 Occurrences)

Mahaneh-dan (2 Occurrences)

Mahanehdan (1 Occurrence)

Kiriathjearim

Kiriath-jearim (17 Occurrences)

Manoah (14 Occurrences)

Danites (15 Occurrences)

Samson (37 Occurrences)

Zanoah (5 Occurrences)

Jarmuth (7 Occurrences)

Etam (5 Occurrences)

Danite (7 Occurrences)

Mano'ah (14 Occurrences)

Ashnah (2 Occurrences)

Sorek (1 Occurrence)

Hornet (3 Occurrences)

Zophim (2 Occurrences)

Dan (71 Occurrences)

Clan (96 Occurrences)

Valiant (66 Occurrences)

Valor (45 Occurrences)

Valour (66 Occurrences)

Zoreah (2 Occurrences)

Zareah (1 Occurrence)

Zorathite (1 Occurrence)

Zorathites (2 Occurrences)

Lowland (34 Occurrences)

Girded (48 Occurrences)

Girt (13 Occurrences)

Gederah (2 Occurrences)

Warriors (75 Occurrences)

Weapons (66 Occurrences)

Ir-she'mesh (1 Occurrence)

Ir (4 Occurrences)

Ir-shemesh (1 Occurrence)

Irshemesh (1 Occurrence)

Foothills (19 Occurrences)

Tappuah (8 Occurrences)

Traverse (5 Occurrences)

Ramothgilead (19 Occurrences)

Ramathlehi (1 Occurrence)

Ramoth-gilead (20 Occurrences)

Ramath-lehi (1 Occurrence)

Represented (3 Occurrences)

En-rimmon (2 Occurrences)

Eshta'ol (1 Occurrence)

En-rim'mon (1 Occurrence)

Explore (13 Occurrences)

Mahaneh (2 Occurrences)

Ma'haneh-dan (2 Occurrences)

Burying-place (19 Occurrences)

Buryingplace (7 Occurrences)

Bulwarks (22 Occurrences)

Beginneth (8 Occurrences)

Childless (25 Occurrences)

Ai'jalon (10 Occurrences)

Aijalon (10 Occurrences)

Ajalon (10 Occurrences)

Sterile (3 Occurrences)

Site (19 Occurrences)

Shemesh (24 Occurrences)

Lodged (35 Occurrences)

Stir (57 Occurrences)

En (19 Occurrences)

Spy (27 Occurrences)

Instruments (136 Occurrences)

Barren (44 Occurrences)

Walled (63 Occurrences)

Coasts (58 Occurrences)

Fenced (61 Occurrences)

Lodge (64 Occurrences)

Bury (78 Occurrences)

Valley (187 Occurrences)

Rimmon (22 Occurrences)

Spent (76 Occurrences)

Armed (147 Occurrences)

Buried (125 Occurrences)

Zorah and Eshtaol
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