Who or what is Eshtaol in the Bible?

Blog Lessons

🇺🇸 EN | 🇺🇦 UK

Home › locations › Eshtaol

Eshtaol

Locations

Modern Location Tell esh-Shari'a

Coordinates 31.7167, 34.9667

Geographical Setting

An ancient Israelite settlement in the Shephelah region of Judah, identified with the biblical town of Eshtaol.

What is the meaning of Eshtaol in the Bible?

Eshtaol was a town in the Shephelah of Judah, located between Zorah and Mahaneh-dan, where Samson was buried. It is also mentioned as one of the cities from which a contingent formed part of the 600 Danites who captured Laish.

SIGNIFICANCE

Identifying Eshtaol helps readers understand the territorial boundaries of the tribe of Dan before their migration and provides geographical context for the narrative of Samson's life and burial in the Book of Judges.

Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide

Geopolitical & Terrain Context: Eshtaol (located near modern Tell esh-Shari'a) held strategic importance. Understanding its position and trade routes explains why key biblical events unfolded here.

Bible Study Reflection Prompts:

Why did the biblical author mention Eshtaol in this passage?
What cultural or historical assumption does Eshtaol clarify?

Source Attribution

Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and shortened for clarity.

How to Cite This Entry

          "Eshtaol." Ancient Context Dictionary. Accessed 2026. https://ancientcontext.com/context/eshtaol/
        

Report Error