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.

Ancient location of the town of Eshtemoa, now the modern city of as-Samu (south of Hebron and west of the Dead Sea—satellite view
Article Version: February 2, 2018