Achzib
“Lying, deceptive, or failing (as a winter stream that dries up)”
Summary
The name of two towns in Palestine: a coastal city in Asher that Israel never conquered, and a town in the lowlands of Judah.
☩Achzib in Asher
A coastal town about nine miles north of Acre, Achzib was allotted to the tribe of Asher but was never conquered from its Phoenician inhabitants. The strongly entrenched coastal cities could support one another against attack, and Israel had no navy to assist. The city was conquered by the Assyrian king Sennacherib around 702 BC. It later became known as Ecdippa in Greek and Latin sources and was considered the northern boundary of the Holy Land on the coast. It is identified with the modern village of ez-Zib.
☩Achzib in Judah
A town in the western lowlands of Judah, mentioned with Keilah and Mareshah. The prophet Micah made a wordplay on its name, which means 'deception' or 'lying': 'The houses of Achzib shall be a deception to the kings of Israel.' This may be the same place as Chezib, where Shelah was born, and Chozeba mentioned in the Chronicles.
Related Verses5 mentions
See Also
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Achzib," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. I (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Achzib," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. I (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).