Where is Tochen in the Bible?

Tochen is mentioned only once in the Bible, in a list of towns belonging to the tribe of Simeon, located in the southern part of the territory of Judah (1 Chronicles 4:32). It was in the Coastal Plain region of ancient Israel.

What happened at Tochen in the Bible?

The Bible does not record any specific events at Tochen. It is listed only as one of the settlements belonging to the tribe of Simeon, indicating it was a town within their allotted territory (1 Chronicles 4:32).

What is the significance of Tochen?

Tochen's significance is primarily geographical, helping to define the territory of the tribe of Simeon. Its mention confirms the historical presence of Israelite settlement in the Coastal Plain region, even for smaller, lesser-known towns.

Tochen

cityOld TestamentCoastal Plain

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Modern Name

Khirbet el Ater

Country

Israel

Region

Coastal Plain

Coordinates

31.6159, 34.8783

Tochen is an ancient city mentioned in the Old Testament, located in the region of Coastal Plain in modern-day Israel. Known today as Khirbet el Ater. It appears across 1 verse in Scripture.

Biblical History

Tochen is a minor settlement mentioned once in Scripture, in the tribal allotment list of Simeon recorded in 1 Chronicles 4:32. The text lists it among five cities belonging to the Simeonites: "Their villages were Etam, Ain, Rimmon, Tochen, and Ashan — five cities." Simeon's territory was peculiar in that it was largely enclosed within Judah's boundaries (Joshua 19:1-9), reflecting Jacob's prophecy that Simeon would be scattered within Israel (Genesis 49:5-7). Tochen thus belongs to a cluster of small settlements in the southern coastal plain and northern Negev that sustained the Simeonite tribal presence, even as Simeon gradually became absorbed into Judah. The name Tochen (meaning "measure" or "standard") appears in no other biblical narrative, and the town played no discernible role in the major events of Israel's history. Nevertheless, its inclusion in the tribal list reflects the Chronicler's thoroughness in documenting all elements of Israel's territorial inheritance, affirming that even the smallest towns held their place in God's distribution of the promised land to his people.

Archaeological & Historical Notes

Tochen is tentatively identified with Khirbet el-Ater, located in the coastal plain southwest of Tel Lachish in modern Israel. The identification is based primarily on the comparison of Simeonite city lists across Joshua 15:42 and 1 Chronicles 4:32, with Tochen possibly corresponding to Ether in the parallel Judahite list. The site has not been extensively excavated, and the identification remains hypothetical. Surface surveys in the broader Shephelah and coastal plain region have produced Iron Age pottery indicating widespread settlement during the monarchy period. The precise character and extent of Tochen as an independent settlement awaits further archaeological investigation.

Verse Appearances (1)

1Chr

1Chr 4:32

Sources: ISBE Encyclopedia · OpenBible Geocoding (CC BY) · Pleiades Gazetteer View all →

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