סִלָּא

סִלָּא

Silla, a place in Jerusalem

Definition

Silla is a proper noun referring to a specific location in Jerusalem, mentioned only once in the Old Testament. The name likely derives from the Hebrew root meaning 'to heap up' or 'to cast up,' suggesting it was an embankment, ramp, or perhaps a terraced area. In its sole biblical occurrence (2 Kings 12:20), it is the place where King Joash's servants conspired against and assassinated him. The exact site of Silla remains uncertain to modern archaeology, but its association with a royal murder marks it as a significant, if tragic, geographical footnote in Jerusalem's history.

Biblical Usage

The word סִלָּא (Silla) is used only one time in the entire Old Testament, in 2 Kings 12:20. It functions strictly as a proper place name, identifying the specific location in Jerusalem where King Joash was murdered by his own officials: 'His servants arose and made a conspiracy and struck down Joash in the house of Millo, on the way that goes down to Silla.' Its usage provides a precise, albeit now-lost, geographical detail for a pivotal event in the narrative of the kings of Judah.

Etymology

The name סִלָּא (Çillâʼ) is derived from the Hebrew root סָלַל (sâlal, H5549), which means 'to heap up,' 'to cast up (a highway),' or 'to mound up.' This root is often used in contexts of building roads or embankments (e.g., Isaiah 57:14, 62:10). Therefore, Silla likely described a built-up or raised area, such as a ramp, terrace, or embankment within the city of Jerusalem. The name is a direct reflection of the topography or man-made structure found at that location.

Semantic Range

In the ancient Near Eastern context, place names were often descriptive of local geography or function. Silla, meaning 'embankment,' would have immediately conveyed a sense of the location's physical character to an ancient Israelite. Its mention in a royal assassination account (2 Kings 12:20) underscores how specific, perhaps even obscure, locations could become permanently associated with major historical and political events. The loss of its exact location to modern scholars highlights the distance between our understanding and the intimate, lived geographical knowledge of the ancient biblical writers and their original audience. סָלַל (sâlal, H5549) — the root verb meaning 'to heap up' or 'build a highway,' from which Silla is derived. מִלּוֹא (Millo, H4407) — another fortified or filled-in area in Jerusalem (e.g., 2 Samuel 5:9, 1 Kings 9:15), often associated with terraces or supporting structures, sharing a similar architectural concept.

Word Details