Secacah
Secacah is an ancient city mentioned in the Old Testament, located in the region of Judea in modern-day Israel. Known today as Khirbet es Samrah. It appears across 1 verse in Scripture.
Biblical History
Secacah is mentioned in Joshua 15:61 as one of six cities allotted to the tribe of Judah in the wilderness district — the barren, sparsely populated region stretching eastward from the Judean hill country toward the Dead Sea. It is listed alongside Middin, the City of Salt, Nibshan, Beth-arabah, and En-gedi. This wilderness district, though inhospitable, held strategic importance as it controlled access to the Dead Sea and the routes crossing the Judean desert. The allocation of these wilderness towns to Judah reflected the comprehensive nature of the tribal inheritance, extending even into the most desolate terrain. The region's harsh landscape later became associated with refuge and spiritual retreat; David hid from Saul in the wilderness of Judah (1 Samuel 23-24), and the Essene community established itself at nearby Qumran. Secacah's inclusion among the wilderness cities demonstrates that every portion of the Promised Land, even its most austere corners, was claimed as part of God's gift to His people.
Archaeological & Historical Notes
Secacah is commonly identified with Khirbet es-Samrah, located in the Buqei'ah Valley (Valley of Achor), a small inland basin in the northern Judean wilderness west of the Dead Sea. Archaeological surveys by Frank Moore Cross and J. T. Milik in the 1950s identified three Iron Age settlements in this valley, corresponding to the wilderness cities of Joshua 15:61. The site features remains of an Iron Age fortified farmstead with evidence of water management systems including dams and channels designed to capture seasonal runoff for agriculture. The harsh environment required sophisticated irrigation techniques. The proximity to Qumran has sparked scholarly interest in continuity of settlement in this region from the Israelite period through the Second Temple era.
Verse Appearances (1)
Josh
Sources: ISBE Encyclopedia · OpenBible Geocoding (CC BY) · Pleiades Gazetteer View all →