Lachish
LocationsGeographical Setting
Lachish was a major fortified city in the Kingdom of Judah, situated in the Shephelah region, and served as a strategic military stronghold until its destruction by the Neo-Assyrian Empire in 701 BC.
What is the meaning of Lachish in the Bible?
Lachish was a prominent fortified city in the Shephelah, the foothills of Judah, located on the border with the Philistine plain. It functioned as a key administrative and military center for the Kingdom of Judah until its destruction by the Assyrians in 701 BC, after which it was eventually abandoned around 400 BC. The site, identified as Tell ed-Duweir (formerly Tell el-Hesy), has yielded extensive archaeological evidence of its historical layers.
SIGNIFICANCE
Understanding Lachish clarifies the geopolitical tensions described in the Hebrew Bible, particularly the Assyrian invasion under Sennacherib recorded in 2 Kings 18-19 and Isaiah 36-37, while the Lachish Letters provide tangible archaeological context for the military and administrative conditions in Judah preceding the Babylonian exile.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
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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.