Lexical Definition

‎שׂוֹכֹה‎ Sôwkôh (so-ko') Socoh ^N:N--L
or שֹׂכֹה Sôkôh (so-ko'); or שׂוֹכוֹ Sôwkôw (so-ko'); from ‎שׂוּךְ‎

Shocho, Shochoh, Sochoh, Soco, Socoh.

• § Shocho or Shochoh or Sochoh or Shoco or Socoh = "bushy"
• Sokoh or Soko, the name of two places in Palestine

1) a town in the lowlands of Judah
2) a town in the mountain district of Judah

Brown-Driver-Briggs

‎שׂוֺכֹה‎, ‎שׂוֺכוֺ‎ proper name, of a location in Judah:

1. in Shephelah, ‎שׂוֺכֹה‎ Josh 15:35; 1Sam 17:1 (twice in verse) (from ᵐ5 Σοκχωθ HPS (after We, compare Dr) conjectures ‎שׂכות‎), ‎שׂוֺכוֺ‎ 2Chr 11:7; 2Chr 28:18, perhaps also ‎שׂכֹה‎ 1Kgs 4:10 (Buhl Benz SS ['perhaps']; Th Kit below 2); modern Eš-Šuw¢ke, south-southeast from Beth Shemesh, in Wady-es-San‰ Rob^{BR 1. 494} Buhl^{Geogr. 194}; Σωχω, Σοκχωθ, etc.

2. in hill-country, Josh 15:48 (Kt ‎שׂוכה‎, Qr ‎שׂוכוֺ‎), probably also ‎שׂוֺכוֺ‎ 1Chr 4:18 ('son' of ‎חֶבֶר‎); modern Šuwêke, 4 h. south of ‎חֶבְרֵוֺן‎ Rob^{BR ii. 16. 21} Buhl^{Geogr. 164}; Σωχω(ν).

Brown-Driver-Briggs References

Profile

Socoh_1 • Town in Judah; site of David's battle with Goliath

Socoh was a town in the Shephelah region of Judah (Josh. 15:35), known for being near the site of David's battle with Goliath (1 Sam. 17:1) and later fortified by Rehoboam (2 Chr. 11:7).

• A location first mentioned at Jos.15.35;
• referred to as Socoh or Socoh (KJV= Shochoh, NIV= Sokoh) שׂוֹכֹה, or Socoh (KJV= Shochoh, NIV= Sokoh) or Socoh (KJV= Sochoh, NIV= Sokoh) שׂוֹכֹה, or Socoh (KJV= Shoco, NIV= Sokoh) שׂוֹכֹה.
  

Socoh, also spelled Sochoh or Shochoh, was a town located in the Shephelah, or lowlands, of Judah (Josh. 15:35). It is mentioned several times in the Bible, most notably in connection with the famous battle between David and Goliath.

In the account of David's confrontation with Goliath, the Philistines gathered their forces for war at Socoh, while the Israelites camped in the Valley of Elah (1 Sam. 17:1). It was in this valley that David, armed only with a sling and five smooth stones, defeated the giant Goliath, leading to a great victory for Israel (1 Sam. 17:40-54).

During the reign of King Solomon, Socoh was included in the district overseen by Ben-hesed, one of the twelve officers responsible for providing food for the king and his household (1 Ki. 4:10).

Later, when Rehoboam, Solomon's son, became king, he fortified Socoh as part of his efforts to strengthen the defenses of Judah (2 Chr. 11:7). However, during the reign of King Ahaz, Socoh was among the towns captured by the Philistines (2 Chr. 28:18).

The exact location of Socoh is uncertain, but it is believed to be either Khirbet Abbad or Khirbet Shuweikeh, both located in the Shephelah region.

All entries for Socoh: שׂוֹכֹה