Tirzah
“Delight; pleasantness”
Summary
Both a daughter of Zelophehad whose inheritance case established a legal precedent, and an ancient Canaanite city renowned for its beauty that served as the first capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel.
☩Daughter of Zelophehad
Tirzah was the youngest of the five daughters of Zelophehad of the tribe of Manasseh. When their father died without sons, these daughters petitioned Moses for an inheritance, resulting in the law that in the absence of male heirs, property should pass to daughters. Later legislation required them to marry within their own tribe to prevent transfer of land between tribes.
☩Ancient Canaanite City
Tirzah was an ancient Canaanite city whose king was among the thirty-one defeated by Joshua in the conquest of Canaan. Its name, meaning 'delight,' suggests its pleasant situation. After the disruption of the kingdom, it became the royal residence of the kings of Israel.
☩Capital of Israel
Tirzah served as the capital of the Northern Kingdom under Jeroboam I, who moved there from Shechem, and his successors Baasha, Elah, and Zimri. The royal sepulchers of at least one, and probably all the first four kings of Israel, were located there. Zimri perished in flames when he burned the palace around himself during Omri's siege. After six years at Tirzah, Omri moved the capital to his newly built city of Samaria.
☩Renowned Beauty
Tirzah's beauty was proverbial throughout Israel. In the Song of Solomon, the beloved is praised as 'beautiful as Tirzah, comely as Jerusalem'—placing this northern city on equal footing with Jerusalem itself in terms of desirability. This juxtaposition has led some to suggest the poem was written by a northern Israelite.
☩Location
Various identifications have been proposed. The traditional identification is with Telluzah, about four miles north of Nablus in the mountains, which Robinson visited and found to be a 'large and thriving' place. Another suggestion is Teiasir, twelve miles northeast of Nablus, where a fortress stands at the junction of important roads.
Related Verses19 mentions
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Tirzah," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. X (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Tirzah," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. V (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 3.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Tirzah," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).