What is the significance of Tekoa in the Bible?

Answer

Tekoa/Tekoah was a small town in Judah, located about 12 miles south of Jerusalem and approximately 5 miles south of Bethlehem. It is referenced multiple times in the Old Testament.

The name Tekoa is found twice in the genealogies in 1 Chronicles: “After Hezron died in Caleb Ephrathah, Abijah the wife of Hezron bore him Ashhur the father of Tekoa” «And after that Hezron was dead in Caleb-ephratah, then Abiah Hezron’s wife bore him Ashur the father of Tekoa. », (1 Chronicles 2:24). Then, “Ashhur the father of Tekoa had two wives, Helah and Naarah” «And Ashur the father of Tekoa had two wives, Helah and Naarah. », (1 Chronicles 4:5). At first glance, it may seem that Tekoa is an individual’s name. However, Tekoa is not mentioned again in the genealogies. In reality, Ashhur, “the father of Tekoa,” has several children, and none of them are named Tekoa: “Ashhur the father of Tekoa had two wives, Helah and Naarah. Naarah bore him Ahuzzam, Hepher, Temeni and Haahashtari. These were the descendants of Naarah. The sons of Helah: Zereth, Zohar, Ethnan, and Koz” (1 Chronicles 4:5-8). Therefore, it is most likely that Ashhur is the “father of Tekoa” in the sense that he established the town of Tekoa; the Tekoa mentioned in the genealogy is not a person but a place. (Tekoa, however, is a name used in Modern Hebrew for both boys and girls.)

Other references to the town of Tekoa are found in the following instances:

In 2 Samuel 14, when Joab endeavors to persuade David to recall Absalom from exile, he calls upon a wise woman from Tekoa to approach the king with a story that ultimately convinces David to comply with Joab’s wishes. Tekoa is mentioned in this chapter.

Errors occur in verses 2, 4, and 9.

Both 2 Samuel 23:26 and 1 Chronicles 11:28 mention “Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa” as one of David’s mighty men.

Second Chronicles 11:6 includes Tekoa among the cities that Rehoboam fortified for defense.

In 2 Chronicles 20, Jehoshaphat leads the armies of Judah against Moab and Ammon, but he was only to lead them in praise and let the Lord fight the battle. “Early in the morning they departed for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, ‘Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the Lord your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful’” (verse 20). The Desert of Tekoa would have been the arid area around the town Tekoa.

Tekoa is perhaps most famous as the birthplace of the prophet Amos. His prophecy begins as follows: “The words of Amos, one of the shepherds of Tekoa— the vision he saw concerning Israel two years before the earthquake, when Uzziah was king of Judah and Jeroboam son of Jehoash was king of Israel” «The words of Amos, who was among the herdmen of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel, two years before the earthquake. », (Amos 1:1). Tekoa is located in the southern kingdom of Judah, but Amos was sent to prophesy to the northern kingdom of Israel. Amos prophesied against many of Israel’s neighbors and eventually against Israel as well, demonstrating that her conduct was no better than that of her pagan neighbors.

Later, Jeremiah prophesied the fall of Jerusalem, mentioning Tekoa in the process: “Flee for safety, people of Benjamin! Flee from Jerusalem! Sound the trumpet in Tekoa! Raise the signal over Beth Hakkerem! For disaster looms out of the north, even terrible destruction” «O ye children of Benjamin, gather yourselves to flee out of the mids

… of Jerusalem, and blow the trumpet in Tekoa, and set up a sign of fire in Beth-haccerem: for evil appeareth out of the north, and great destruction.” , (Jeremiah 6:1). This warning may have been more poignant if Tekoa was still part of the defensive city network established by Rehoboam. (The word Tekoa literally means “trumpet,” so Jeremiah is using a play on words.)

Nehemiah 3:5 and 27 report that men of Tekoa helped to repair the wall of Jerusalem, although the nobles from there refused to help.

Tekoa was not a major city, but it is mentioned several times in conjunction with some significant episodes in the history of Israel and Judah.