Socoh
שׂוֹכֹה · “Socho” on the map
Where was biblical Socoh? At Khirbet Abbad, south side of the Elah Valley, about 25 km southwest of Jerusalem. I mark it very likely.
The Philistines gathered at Socho and spread their camp along this hillside, facing Saul's army across the Valley of Elah.
By Aaron Shaffier, licensed Israel tour guide and mapmaker · About the mapmaker
- Site today
- Khirbet Abbad, south side of the Elah Valley
- How sure
- Very likely Strong evidence, with no serious rival.
- Other names
- Sochoh, Soco, Sokho, Khirbet Abbad, Khirbet Shuweikeh, Givat HaTurmusim
- Location
- 31.6820° N, 34.9741° E (Google Maps)
How we know where it was
The Arabic name Shuweikeh keeps the Hebrew Socho. Most scholars put the Iron Age town on the summit of Khirbet Abbad, with the name sliding down to the later ruin at its foot. That happens often in this country. A town shifts a little, and the name goes with it.
The position settles it. The Bible says the Philistines camped "between Socho and Azekah," with the valley between the armies. This hill sits on the south side of the Elah, looking straight across at Azekah. Socho mattered later too. Rehoboam fortified it. It is one of four towns named on royal jar-handle stamps from Hezekiah's time, so it was a center of Judah's administration. In the days of Ahaz the Philistines took it.
I climbed this hill to see the battle from the Philistine side. Why did they come here at all? Look east. Up the pass lie Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Saul's seat and Hebron. The Philistines drove their chariots up the valley to make a statement. The Israelites had no iron and no chariots. On the flat valley floor the Philistines ruled completely. So their commander and his dignitaries sat up here to watch and direct the battle, while the chariots filled the valley below.
Israelis know this hill another way. Every spring they come for the purple lupines, turmus in Hebrew, and they call it the hill of the lupines.
There are other Socohs in the Bible, one south of Hebron and one in the Sharon. This is the Socho of David and Goliath.
Watch: David and Goliath
Walking Tanach, Episode 3. Climbs the hill to see the battle from the Philistine side.
Visiting today
The hill is largely unexcavated, with scattered ruins and a view across to Azekah, and you can walk up. I climbed it for David and Goliath.
Read it in the Bible
Verse numbers follow the Hebrew Bible. In a handful of chapters English Bibles count one verse off.
See Socho on the interactive map →
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Get the print + free ebookNearby places
- Jarmuth 3 km north
- Azekah 4 km northwest
- Adullam 4 km southeast
- Beth Shemesh 8 km north
- Zorah (Tzorah) 10 km north
- Eshtaol 11 km north