Editing Zorah

{{Short description|Ancient town mentioned in the Bible}}
{{Infobox ancient site
  |name           = Zorah
  |native_name    = צרעה
  |alternate_name = Sarea
  |image          = Mosaic floor at Zorah.jpg
  |alt            =
  |caption        = Mosaic floor at Zorah
  |map_type       = Israel
  |map_alt        =
  |map_size       = 150
  |location       = Israel
  |region         = Shephelah
  |coordinates    = {{coord|31.775086|34.98535|display=inline}}
  |type           =
  |part_of        =
  |length         =
  |width          =
  |area           =
  |height         =
  |builder        =
  |material       =
  |built          =
  |abandoned      =
  |epochs         = Late Bronze age
  |cultures       = Canaanite, Israelite
  |dependency_of  =
  |occupants      =
  |event          =
  |excavations    =
  |archaeologists = 
  |condition      = Ruin
  |ownership      =
  |public_access  =
  |website        =
  |notes          =
}}

{{coord|31|46|30.31|N|34|59|7.26|E|region:IL|display=title}}
'''Zorah''' ({{langx|he|צרעה}}) or '''Tzorah''' ({{IPA|he|tsoʁˈ(ʔ)a|pron}}), was a biblical town in the [[Shfela|Judaean Foothills]]. It has been identified with the former village of [[Sar'a]], now often referred to as '''Tel Tzora'''.

==Location==
Zorah was situated on the crest of a hill overlooking the [[Brook of Sorek|valley of Sorek]]. It lies at an elevation of about {{convert|1150|ft|m|}} above sea-level.<ref>''The [[Palestine Exploration Fund]] Quarterly Statement'', London 1871, p. 93</ref> 

It is located 23 kilometers west of [[Jerusalem]] near [[Nahal Sorek]].

==History==
Zorah was mentioned together with [[Ajalon]] in the [[Amarna letters]] as a city attacked by the [[Apiru]]. Zorah has been identified with the biblical Zoreah ({{bibleverse||Joshua|15:33|HE}}), and is the birthplace of [[Samson]].<ref>Judges 13:2</ref> {{bibleverse||Judges|13:2|NKJV}} states:
:"there was a certain man from Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was [[Manoah]]".  
Samson's grave is recorded as being near there ({{bibleverse||Judges|16:31|HE}}), and which the historian [[Josephus]] says was in a village called Sarasat.<ref>Josephus, [[Antiquities of the Jews|Antiquities]] (v.ix.§ 12)</ref>

In {{bibleverse||Joshua|19:41|HE}}, Zorah is mentioned in the allotment of the [[Tribe of Judah]], on the border with the [[Tribe of Dan]]. It was most likely the Danites who occupied Zorah.

According to the Book of Chronicles, it was fortified by [[Rehoboam]] ({{bibleverse|2|Chronicles|11:10|HE}}).
[[File:Manoach altar.jpg|thumb|A hewn altar found near the site of Zorah]]

The [[Palestinian Arabs|Palestinian]] village [[Sar'a]] was located in the presumed location of the ancient town. It was depopulated during the [[1948 Arab–Israeli War]]. [[C. R. Conder|Conder]] and [[HH Kitchener|Kitchener]], describing the site in 1881, said that, with the exception of the olive groves to the north of the village, the low hill on which the village lies is "bare and white," a place now planted with a pine forest by the [[Jewish National Fund]].<ref>Conder and Kitchener, ''Survey of Western Palestine'' (vol. III), London 1883, p.  [https://archive.org/stream/surveyofwesternp03conduoft#page/26/mode/1up 26]</ref>

[[Kibbutz]] [[Tzora]] is now located nearby, at the foot of Zorah mountain, on its southern side.

== Archaeology ==
Caves, tombs, cisterns and a winepress were discovered at Tel Tzora. Two winepresses were carved into the rock, one of which was paved with mosaic.

A rock-hewn altar was found just below the tell.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Hanauer |first=J. E. |date=1885 |title=The Rock Altar of Zorah |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1179/peq.1885.17.3.183 |journal=Palestine Exploration Quarterly |volume=17 |issue=3 |pages=183–184 |doi=10.1179/peq.1885.17.3.183 |issn=0031-0328}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> It has been nicknamed "Manoah's Altar", after Samson's father.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=Elitzur |first=Yael |last2=Nir-Zevi |first2=Doran |date=2003 |title=A Rock-Hewn Altar Near Shiloh |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1179/peq.2003.135.1.30 |journal=Palestine Exploration Quarterly |volume=135 |issue=1 |pages=30–36 |doi=10.1179/peq.2003.135.1.30 |issn=0031-0328}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Commons category|Zorah (Archaeological Site)}}

==External links==
* Surah (Zorah) in Survey of Western Palestine, Map 17: [http://www.iaa-archives.org.il/zoom/zoom.aspx?folder_id=93&type_id=6&id=8379  IAA], [[:File:Survey_of_Western_Palestine_1880.17.jpg|Wikimedia commons]]
{{eastons|wstitle=Zorah}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Zorah}}
[[Category:Zorah| ]]
[[Category:Hebrew Bible cities]]
[[Category:Former populated places in West Asia]]
[[Category:Archaeological sites in Israel]]