What is…
Eshtemoa

also known as: Eshtemoh

Meaning: obedience

This was the name of a town and a descendant of Mered and Bithiah (a daughter of Pharoah).

The town was in the mountains of Judah (Joshua 21:14; 1 Chronicles 6:57), and was allotted, with the land around it, to the priests—becoming a Levitical city. It is also called “Eshtemoh” (Joshua 15:50).

It was frequented by David and his followers during their wanderings, and he sent presents of the spoil of the Amalekites to his friends there (1 Samuel 30:28).

It is identified with As-Samu (es-Semu’a), a village about 3½ miles east of Socoh, and 7 or 8 miles south of Hebron, around which there are ancient remains of the ruined city. It is the center of the “south country” or Negeb.