Bible Dictionary
Zorah
A town on the border of Dan and Judah, the birthplace and burial place of Samson. Rehoboam later fortified it.
Definition
Zorah was a town on the border of Dan and Judah, in the low country near the valley of Sorek. It was the birthplace and burial place of Samson and was later fortified by Rehoboam.
Biblical Usage
Zorah was the home of Manoah and Samson. Danite spies also set out from the area, and Samson was buried nearby. After the exile, it was reinhabited by Judahites.
Historical Background
Zorah is identified with modern Sur‘ah, on a high hill north of the valley of Sorek, about eight miles west of Jerusalem. Ancient tombs, cisterns, and wine presses remain around the site.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Place of wasps, a town in the low country of Judah, afterwards given to Dan (Josh. 19:41; Judg. 18:2), probably the same as Zoreah (Josh. 15:33). This was Samson’s birthplace (Judg. 13:2, 25), and near it he found a grave (16:31). It was situated on the crest of a hill overlooking the valley of Sorek, and was fortified by Rehoboam (2 Chr. 11:10). It has been identified with Sur’ah, in the Wady Surar, 8 miles west of Jerusalem. It is noticed on monuments in the fifteenth century B.C. as attacked by the Abiri or Hebrews.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
(hornet), a town in the allotment of the tribe of Dan, (Joshua 19:41) It is previously mentioned ch. (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 .
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>zo'-ra (tsor`ah; Saraa): A city on the border of Dan, between Eshtaol and Ir-shemesh (Jos 19:41); the birthplace of Samson (Jud 13:2,25); near here too he was buried (Jud 16:31); from here some Danites went to spy out the land (Jud 18:2,11). In Jos 15:33 it is, with Eshtaol, allotted to Judah, and after the captivity it was reinhabited by the "children of Judah" (Ne 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.</p><p>It is the modern Sur`a, near the summit of a lofty hill on the north side of the Wady es-Surar (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 Eshu`a (Eshtaol), `Ain Shems (Beth-shemesh) and Tibnah (Timnah) are all visible. See PEF, III, 158, Sh XVII.</p><p>E. W. G. Masterman</p>