Chozeba
## Biblical Mention and Identification Chozeba appears only once in the Bible, listed in the genealogy of Judah within the descendants of Shelah (1 Chronicles 4:21-22). The text notes that the men of Chozeba were among those recorded as craftsmen or linen workers. The name Chozeba (Hebrew: כָּזֵבָא) is understood to mean "deceitful" or "false," a meaning it shares with the related place names Achzib (Joshua 15:44; Micah 1:14) and Chezib (Genesis 38:5). Most scholars agree these names refer to the same or closely related locations in the Judean Shephelah (lowland hills).
## Location and Historical Context Based on biblical references and archaeological evidence, Chozeba/Achzib is traditionally identified with modern Tell el-Beida or nearby Khirbet el-Beida, situated southwest of Jerusalem in the territory allotted to the tribe of Judah (Joshua 15:44). This region was part of the fertile foothills between the coastal plain and the Judean mountains. In the Genesis narrative, Chezib is the town where Judah's son Shelah was born to his Canaanite wife (Genesis 38:5), directly linking the location to the very lineage in which Chozeba later appears in Chronicles.
## Significance in Judah's Genealogy The inclusion of Chozeba in the Chronicler's extensive genealogy serves multiple purposes. First, it grounds the tribe of Judah in specific geographical locations, affirming their historical claim to the land. Second, by noting that its inhabitants were craftsmen, the text highlights the diversity of occupations within the tribe, moving beyond purely agrarian or pastoral identities. This detail in 1 Chronicles 4:22 connects the community's identity to both their place of origin and their skilled labor, integrating geography, lineage, and vocation.
## Theological and Narrative Implications The name's meaning ("deceitful") may carry a subtle theological echo. In the story of Judah and Tamar (Genesis 38), set in Chezib, themes of deception and providence intertwine, ultimately leading to the lineage of King David and, according to the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:3). While the Chronicler does not explicitly draw this connection, the presence of Chozeba in the genealogy serves as a geographical anchor point in the long, sometimes messy, story of God's faithfulness to the line of Judah, through which the Messiah would come.
Biblical Context
Chozeba is mentioned explicitly only in 1 Chronicles 4:22 within a genealogical list of the tribe of Judah. It is contextually linked to the towns of Achzib (mentioned in the tribal allotment of Judah in Joshua 15:44 and prophetically in Micah 1:14) and Chezib (where Judah's son Shelah was born in Genesis 38:5). Its role is primarily geographical and genealogical, situating a branch of Judah's descendants in a specific part of the Shephelah region.
Theological Significance
The mention of Chozeba, though minor, contributes to the Bible's theme of God's sovereign work through specific places and family lines. Its connection to the lineage of Judah—the tribe of kingship and the Messiah—highlights how God's redemptive plan unfolds within real historical and geographical contexts. The inclusion of its craftsmen in the genealogy also subtly affirms the dignity of skilled labor as part of God's purposes for his people.
Historical Background
Extra-biblical sources and archaeological surveys suggest Achzib/Chozeba was a Canaanite town later incorporated into Judah. Its location in the Shephelah placed it in a contested border region between the Israelite hills and Philistine plain. The name's meaning ("deceitful") might reflect a proverbial characteristic of the place or its unreliable water sources, a common reason for such names in the ancient Near East. Excavations in the region show settlement from the Bronze Age through the Iron Age (Israelite period).