Zoreah
Name and Location
Zoreah is the spelling used in the KJV of Joshua 15:33 for the town more commonly known as Zorah. The town was located in the Shephelah, the fertile foothills between the coastal plain and the Judean hill country. It is identified with modern Sar'ah, situated on a prominent hill overlooking the Sorek Valley, approximately 15 miles west of Jerusalem.
In the Tribal Allotments
Zorah appears in Joshua 15:33 as part of the inheritance of the tribe of Judah, specifically within the lowland district. It is also listed among the cities allotted to the tribe of Dan (Joshua 19:41). This dual attribution reflects the contested nature of the border territory between Judah and Dan, an area that saw ongoing conflict with the Philistines throughout the period of the Judges.
Connection to Samson
Zorah is best known as the hometown of Samson, the famous judge of Israel. Judges 13:2 identifies Samson's father Manoah as a man from Zorah, of the clan of the Danites. It was here that the angel of the Lord appeared to Manoah's wife to announce Samson's miraculous birth (Judges 13:3-5). After his death, Samson was buried "between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of his father Manoah" (Judges 16:31).
The Danite Migration
Zorah also features in the account of the Danite migration in Judges 18. Unable to fully conquer their allotted territory due to Philistine pressure, the Danites sent spies from Zorah and Eshtaol to find new land in the north (Judges 18:2). This migration eventually led to the establishment of the city of Dan in the far north of Israel.
Post-Exilic Resettlement
Zorah appears again in Nehemiah 11:29 (spelled Zareah in KJV) among the towns resettled by the people of Judah after the return from Babylonian exile. This indicates the town's continued importance over many centuries of Israelite history.
Biblical Context
Zoreah/Zorah appears in Joshua 15:33 and 19:41 in tribal allotments, in Judges 13:2 and 16:31 as Samson's hometown, in Judges 18:2 in the Danite migration, and in Nehemiah 11:29 among post-exilic settlements.
Theological Significance
Zorah's association with Samson connects it to God's pattern of raising up deliverers for his people in times of oppression. The town's location on the border between Israelite and Philistine territory made it a place where faith was tested and divine intervention was most needed.
Historical Background
Zorah is identified with modern Sar'ah on a hill above the Sorek Valley. Archaeological surveys have found remains from the Bronze and Iron Ages at the site. Its strategic position overlooking the valley made it an important settlement for controlling access between the coastal plain and the hill country.