Horesh
Horesh is a region mentioned in the Old Testament, located in the region of Judea in modern-day Israel. Known today as Khirbet Khureise. It appears across 4 verses in Scripture.
Biblical History
Horesh was a wilderness region in the hill country of Judah that served as a place of refuge for David during his years of flight from King Saul. The four references to Horesh in 1 Samuel 23 situate it in the vicinity of Ziph, in the rugged terrain south of Hebron. David and his men retreated to the strongholds at Horesh while Saul pursued them relentlessly (1 Samuel 23:15-19). It was at Horesh that Jonathan, Saul's son and David's closest friend, came to David in secret and "helped him find strength in God" — a profound moment of covenant friendship and spiritual encouragement in which Jonathan reaffirmed his belief that David would become king of Israel (1 Samuel 23:16-18). This encounter at Horesh represents one of the most tender episodes of loyal friendship in all of Scripture. The Ziphites betrayed David's location to Saul (1 Samuel 23:19), prompting further flight. Horesh thus witnessed both the lowest point of David's fugitive years and one of its most spiritually significant moments — the renewing of covenant friendship and hope in God's promises.
Archaeological & Historical Notes
Horesh is most commonly identified with Khirbet Khureise, a ruined site in the hill country south of Hebron in the southern West Bank. The identification is based on geographical correspondence with the biblical narrative, which places Horesh near Ziph and the wilderness of Maon. The broader region of the southern Judean hill country has been surveyed and shows evidence of Iron Age occupation, consistent with the period of Saul and David. No formal excavation of Khirbet Khureise in connection with the biblical Horesh has been published. The terrain of this region — characterized by deep wadis and rocky escarpments — is consistent with the narrative's depiction of a wilderness stronghold offering concealment from pursuing forces.
Verse Appearances (4)
Sources: ISBE Encyclopedia · OpenBible Geocoding (CC BY) · Pleiades Gazetteer View all →