Socoh
Description
Socho
1. Fortified city in the Shephelah, parallel to the coastal plain of the Mediterranean Sea and adjacent to the territory of Judah. In [Josh 15:35 ], it is mentioned with Adullam and Azekah. According to [1Sam 17:1 ], the Philistines camped between S. and Azekah when they went to war against Saul. During Solomon's reign, one of the twelve royal officials resided here [1Kgs 4:10 ]. Rehoboam fortified this city again [2Chr 11:7 ]. Its importance is also evident from the fact that the Philistines captured it during the reign of Judah's King Ahaz [2Chr 28:18 ] along with other cities of this plain. It is now known as Chirbet Shuweikeh, a ruin on a solitary hill, protected on three sides by deep valleys and easily defensible. The inhabitants of Suchath, mentioned in [1Chr 2:55 ], are perhaps the residents of the city S.
2. Another S. is likely meant in [Josh 15:48 ]. Researchers believe it refers to today's es-Shuweikeh, 16 km southwest of Hebron.
3. The founder [= father] of the first or second S. was according to [1Chr 4:18 ] a certain Heber.
4. Some place near Ramah, the city of Samuel [1Sam 19:22 ].
Biblical Dictionary by Adolf Novotný
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Socho
a fence; hedge, [(1Chr 4:18 ); R.V., Soco]
= So'choh [(1Kings 4:10); R.V., Socoh],
Sho'choh [(1Sam 17:1 ); R.V., Socoh],
Sho'co [(2Chr 11:7 ); R.V., Soco],
Sho'cho [(2Chr 28:18 ); R.V., Soco],
a city in the plain or lowland of Judah, where the Philistines encamped when they invaded Judah after their defeat at Michmash. It lay on the northern side of the valley of Elah (Wady es-Sunt). It has been identified with the modern Khurbet Shuweikeh, about 14 miles south-west of Jerusalem. In this campaign Goliath was slain, and the Philistines were completely routed.
EBD - Easton's Bible Dictionary