לוּשׁ

לוּשׁ

Lush, a place in Palestine

Definition

Lûwsh (לוּשׁ) is a proper noun referring to a place in ancient Palestine, mentioned only once in the Old Testament. It is identified as the hometown of Paltiel, the husband of Michal, King Saul's daughter, to whom she was given after David fled (2 Samuel 3:15). The name appears to be a variant or textual alternative for the more familiar city of Laish (לַיִשׁ, H3919), which is later known as Dan (Judges 18:7, 29). This single biblical reference places Lûwsh within the narrative of the political and marital conflicts during David's rise to kingship.

Biblical Usage

The word Lûwsh is used only once in the Old Testament, in 2 Samuel 3:15. Its usage is strictly geographical, serving to identify the origin of Paltiel, a minor figure in the story of David reclaiming his wife Michal. The context is historical narrative within the books of Samuel, detailing the transfer of Michal from Paltiel back to David, highlighting the personal and political maneuvers of the era. No other patterns or contexts exist due to its single occurrence.

Etymology

Lûwsh derives from the Hebrew root לוּשׁ (H3888), meaning 'to knead' or 'to press.' As a place name, it likely originated from this verbal root, possibly describing the terrain's character (e.g., 'kneaded' or soft land) or an early settlement activity. It is closely connected to Laish (H3919), which may represent a dialectical variation or a scribal alternative, with Laish itself possibly meaning 'lion.' The development from a common verb to a proper noun follows typical Hebrew patterns for geographic naming.

Semantic Range

In its cultural context, Lûwsh represents one of many small, likely Canaanite towns in ancient Palestine during the early Israelite monarchy. Its mention underscores the complex tribal and marital alliances of the time, as place names often signaled lineage and social connections. The variant spelling compared to Laish may reflect regional pronunciation differences or textual transmission practices, reminding modern readers of the fluidity in ancient geographic records before standardization. Laish (Layish, H3919) — A more frequently used name for the same or a closely related city, later known as Dan.

Word Details