What is…
Zorah

also known as: Zoreah, Zareah, Tzorah, Tsorah, and Tsar'a

Hebrew: צָרְעָה —transliteration: Tsorah —possible meaning: place of wasps —occurrences: 10

This is an ancient town in the low country of the Tribe of Judah (forested Judean foothills), afterwards given to the Tribe of Dan (Joshua 19:41; Judges 18:2), and is probably the same as Zoreah (Joshua 15:33).

This was Samson’s birthplace (Judges 13:2, 25), and near it he found a grave (Judges 16:31).

It is about 14 miles (23 kilometers) west of Jerusalem near Nahal Sorek—the river/brook of Sorek. The city was situated on the crest of a hill 1,150 feet (350 meters) above sea-level overlooking the valley of Sorek. It was fortified by King Rehoboam (2 Chronicles 11:10).

Zorah is noted on 15th century BC monuments as having been attacked by the Abiri or Hebrews.

The ruins of Zorah are in modern Israel at Tel Tsar'a (aka Tel Tzora). Samson’s Tomb is marked there.

The Palestinian Arab village of Sar'a was apparently built on the ancient Canaanite’s site of Zorah.