Achzib (Hastings' Dictionary)

1. One of the 22 towns of Asher (.los VJ-' B ExoCii^, A "AxC^'Vi '1 Jg 1" " 'AirxaC'. A 'Airx'i'Sfi). It is identified as Kz-Zib on the coast between Acre and Tyre, near where the level line of sand is broken by the promontory of Ras- en-Naknrah. The present village — a mere huddle of glaring huts on one of the highest eminences of the sanily sciv-wall — has nothing to indicate that it w:us once a place of some note. It is mentioned in Jg 1' among the towns and districts that Israel failed to concjuer. A. was called Aksibi by the Assyr., and licdippa by the Greeks and Romans. Jo.sephus anil .Jerome refer to it. The Rabbin, writers, hedging the Land as they did the Hook, marked out three districts, indicated by A., Antioch, and Mesopotamia. They inclined to the view that A. was on the outside of the first boundary line. All within w;i.s Holy Land, where bread, wine, and oil could be found ceremonially clean, and where the dates of the months and their fa.st.s could be accurately known in time for ob.servance. 2. Anoilur Achzib (B K«Cei'/9, A omits), situated in the Shephelah or 'low-land' of Jndah, is men- tioned along with Keilah and Mareshah in Jg 15*, and with .Mareshah and Adullam in .Mic 1'. This neighbonrliood suggests a possible identilicalion with 'Ain-Kezbeh near Adullam. Tlie name appears as Kezib {^'\-„ XaafSi) in Gn 38'', and as Koz6ba (•■<?!;, B Zuxvei, A XaQri^i) in 1 Ch 42-. S. ^me literary interest attaches to Mic 1'*, where it is said that ' the houses of Achzib .shall be a lie ( Aclizab) to the kings of Israel.' The resemblance seems to iniiily a play on the word. Occurring in a pa.ssage of vehement reproach, such derision corresponds to the spitting on the ground, which Orientals resort to when greatly excited and provoked — as an expression of uttermost nausea and contempt. 0. M. MalKIK.