2 Chronicles 11:10

(10) Zorah.—Sur’ah; a ruin on the ridge north of the Wady-es-Surar. The birthplace of Samson.

Aijalon.—Yalo, north of Sur’ah, four leagues west of Gibeon. Zorah and Aijalon, or Ajalon, may have become Benjamite cities at the epoch of the migration of Dan (Judges 18). (See Jos_19:41-42; also Jos_15:33; Jos_10:12.) Of the fifteen fortified cities here enumerated these two lay farthest north.

Hebron.—El Khalil (Gen_23:2).

Which are in Judah and in Benjamin.—This refers to the entire list.

Fenced cities.—‘Arê metsûrôth (“cities of ramparts,” or “strongholds”); a phrase peculiar to the chronicler. (Comp. 2Ch_12:4.) “The fifteen cities [excluding Zorah and Ajalon] were on the south and west of Jerusalem. Hence Rehoboam appears to have been more afraid of an attack from the south and west—that is, from the Egyptians—than of a war with the northern kingdom.” (Bertheau.)

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

10. Zorah] Jos_15:33 (R.V.). It was situated in the Shephelah.

Aijalon] The modern Yalo, about midway between Ramleh and Jerusalem. Bädeker, pp. 15, 18. It is an ancient place mentioned in the Tell-el-Amarna letters and in Jos_10:12, R.V. (“Valley of Aijalon,” i.e. the modern Merj ibn Omêr). Cp. 2Ch_28:18, R.V.

and in Benjamin] None of the fifteen cities seems to have been in Benjamin. Zorah and Aijalon were in Dan (Jos_19:41-42, R.V.), while the remaining thirteen were in Judah. Cp. 2Ch_11:5.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And in every several city he put shields and spears,.... Furnished them with these and perhaps other pieces of armour, these being put for all, to defend themselves with against an enemy, and to annoy them:

and made them exceeding strong; so that they could not be easily taken:

having Judah and Benjamin on his side: which tribes cleaved to one another, and to Rehoboam, and to the kings of the house of David, in later times, as well as to the true religion.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

10. Zorah — See on Jos_15:33.

Aijalon — See on 1Sa_14:31.

Hebron — Jos_10:3.

In Judah and in Benjamin — That is. these cities were in the territory now ruled by the kingdom of Judah and Benjamin. None of them were in the tribe-territory of Benjamin, but Benjamin is here mentioned as being identified with the kingdom of Rehoboam. Comp. 2Ch_11:1; 2Ch_11:12; 2Ch_11:23.

THE LEVITES RESORT TO JERUSALEM, 2Ch_11:13-17.

Having mentioned how Rehoboam strengthened the natural defenses of his kingdom, the writer proceeds to show how he received additional strength, of a moral character, by the general coming to him of the priests and Levites, and pious Israelites from all the tribes. Jeroboam’s institution of the calf worship at Beth-el and Dan naturally drove the regular priests and Levites from the northern kingdom. See note on 1Ki_12:31.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Zorah. The people of Zorah, or Zoreah, were the Zareathites 1Ch_2:53; it was the home of Manoah, and the native place of Samson see Jos_15:33 Jos_19:41. Other interesting references are (Jud_1:13:25 16:31 18:2-11; Neh_11:29) It belonged to the original allotment of Dan, and is constantly named in company with Eshtaol. Aijalon. The modern Jalo; also originally belonged to allotment of Dan Jos_10:12 Jos_19:42 Jos_21:24. Other interesting references are (Jud 1:35; 1Sa_14:31; 1Ki_14:30; 1Ch_6:66, 1Ch_6:69; 2Ch_28:18) Hebron. One of the most ancient of cities still lasting, rivalling in this respect Damascus. It belonged to Judah and to its hill country; (Jos_15:54 Jos_20:7) it was about twenty Romanmiles south of Jerusalem. Its original name was Kirjath Arba. In Num_13:22 it is said that it was built "seven years before Zoan in Egypt," but it is not said when Zoan was built. It now contains about five thousand population, but scarcely a tithe of them Jews. Its long stretch of history is full of incidents of interest, and is partially illustrated by the references that follow: Gen_13:18 Gen_23:2-19, 20 35:27 37:14; Num_13:22, Num_13:23; Jos_10:36 Jos_14:6-15 Jos_15:13, 14 21:11-13; 2Sa_4:12 2Sa_5:5; Neh_11:25.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.