Joktheel
Joktheel is an ancient city mentioned in the Old Testament, located in the region of Judea in modern-day Israel. Known today as Tell ed Duweir. It appears across 1 verse in Scripture.
Biblical History
Joktheel appears in two distinct biblical contexts. In Joshua 15:38, it is listed among the cities in the Shephelah (lowland) allotted to the tribe of Judah, grouped with Lachish and other settlements in the western foothills. This Joktheel was part of the fertile agricultural region that formed Judah's western frontier. A second, more prominent reference occurs in 2 Kings 14:7, where King Amaziah of Judah defeated ten thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt and captured the Edomite fortress city of Sela. After his victory, Amaziah renamed the conquered city Joktheel, a name it retained to the time of the biblical writer. The name Joktheel likely means "God's subjugation" or "subdued by God," reflecting Amaziah's attribution of the military victory to divine aid. This renaming practice was common in the ancient Near East, signifying a transfer of sovereignty. However, Amaziah's spiritual trajectory was mixed; despite this victory, he later turned to worship the gods of Edom, provoking God's judgment upon himself and Judah.
Archaeological & Historical Notes
The Joktheel of the Shephelah district (Joshua 15:38) has been tentatively associated with Tell ed-Duweir, though this prominent site is more commonly identified with biblical Lachish. If the identification holds, the site boasts one of the most extensively excavated tells in the southern Levant, with major campaigns by James Starkey in the 1930s and David Ussishkin from 1973 to 1994. Discoveries include the famous Lachish Letters (ostraca), massive Iron Age fortifications, a siege ramp from Sennacherib's 701 BC assault, and a deep well-cut water shaft. The Joktheel renamed by Amaziah (2 Kings 14:7) is a separate site, identified with Sela in Edom, possibly Umm el-Biyara near Petra.
Verse Appearances (1)
Josh
Sources: ISBE Encyclopedia · OpenBible Geocoding (CC BY) · Pleiades Gazetteer View all →