Ahlab
“Fat or fertile”
Summary
A town in the territory of Asher from which the Israelites were unable to expel the native Canaanite inhabitants.
☩Location and History
Ahlab was a town assigned to the tribe of Asher, apparently located near Sidon and Achzib along the Phoenician border. Its position within unconquered Phoenician territory may explain why it was omitted from the original list of Asherite cities in Joshua. The Israelites failed to drive out the original inhabitants, leaving the Canaanites dwelling among them.
☩Later Identification
Ahlab has been identified by some scholars with the later city of Gush-Chalab (Giscala), which is preserved in the modern name el-Jish, near Safed in the hilly country northwest of the Sea of Galilee. This place was famous in rabbinical times for its olive oil, and ancient olive trees still remain in the neighborhood. From Giscala came the famous John, son of Levi, who was a leader during the siege of Jerusalem. However, this identification remains uncertain.
Related Verses1 mention
Judges· 1 verse
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Ahlab," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. I (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Ahlab," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. I (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 3.George Morrish, "Ahlab," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).
- 4.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Ahlab," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).