Seirath
“The shaggy or hairy place”
Summary
A place in the hill country of Ephraim to which Ehud fled after assassinating King Eglon of Moab, from where he rallied Israel to victory.
☩Location
Seirath was located in 'Mount Ephraim,' the rough, wooded hill country of central Israel. The name means 'the shaggy' or 'the hairy,' referring to the bushy, rugged terrain characteristic of the area. This same rough woodland extended southward into the territory of Judah. The definite article prefixed to the name in Hebrew indicates it was a well-known spot in its day.
☩Ehud's Escape
After killing King Eglon in his summer parlor at Jericho, Ehud escaped through the porch and fled to Seirath. From this strategic location, he blew a trumpet and gathered the Israelites from the surrounding hills for battle against the Moabites. The Israelites then descended and seized the fords of the Jordan, cutting off the Moabites' escape and winning a decisive victory.
Related Verses1 mention
Judges· 1 verse
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Seirath," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. IX (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Seirath," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).
- 3.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Seirath," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).