Tekoa
Tekoa is an ancient city mentioned in the Old Testament, located in the region of Judea in modern-day Israel. Known today as Khirbet Teku’a. It appears across 14 verses in Scripture.
Biblical History
Tekoa was a fortified town in the Judean hill country approximately ten kilometers south of Bethlehem, perched on the edge of the wilderness of Judea where the inhabited highlands give way to the dramatic descent toward the Dead Sea. The city's most celebrated biblical association is with the prophet Amos, who identified himself as "among the shepherds of Tekoa" (Amos 1:1), emphasizing his humble pastoral origins even as he was commissioned to deliver fierce prophetic oracles against Israel and the nations in the eighth century BC. An earlier narrative involves the wise woman of Tekoa, enlisted by Joab to approach David with a fabricated legal case designed to persuade the king to restore the exiled Absalom (2 Samuel 14:1–20). The episode showcases Tekoite wisdom, and Joab's choice of a woman from this town suggests a recognized tradition of shrewdness and eloquence. King Rehoboam fortified Tekoa as part of his defense network after the kingdom divided (2 Chronicles 11:6). During Nehemiah's rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls, men of Tekoa contributed labor — though their nobles refused to cooperate (Nehemiah 3:5, 27). Jeremiah invoked Tekoa in a call to sound the trumpet of warning (Jeremiah 6:1).
Archaeological & Historical Notes
Tekoa is identified with Khirbet Teku'a, a well-preserved ruin situated on a high ridge southeast of Bethlehem. The site has been surveyed and partially excavated, with finds spanning the Iron Age through the Byzantine period, confirming occupation during the monarchic period relevant to Amos, Rehoboam, and Nehemiah. Iron Age II remains include architectural elements and pottery consistent with a fortified Judaean town. Byzantine-period remains are particularly extensive, reflecting the site's veneration in Christian tradition as the birthplace of Amos. The surrounding landscape of rolling hills transitioning to the Judean Wilderness matches the pastoral setting of Amos's self-description as a shepherd and dresser of sycamore trees. A spring in the vicinity provided water for the community and its flocks.
Verse Appearances (14)
Sources: ISBE Encyclopedia · OpenBible Geocoding (CC BY) · Pleiades Gazetteer View all →