Lexical Summary Teqoa: Tekoa Original Word: תְּקוֹעַ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Tekoa, Tekoah A form of taqowa'; Tekoa, a place in Palestine -- Tekoa, Tekoah. see HEBREW taqowa' NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom taqa Definition a city in Judah NASB Translation Tekoa (7). Brown-Driver-Briggs תְּקוֺעַ proper name, of a location in southern Judah (connection with above √ dubious); — Amos 1:1; Jeremiah 6:1; 2Chronicles 11:6, as 'son' of Ashhur 1 Chronicles 2:24; 1 Chronicles 4:5; תְּק֫וֺעָה 2 Samuel 14:2; ׳מִדְבַּר ת2Chronicles 20:20; ᵐ5 Θεκωε (also #NAME?); modern Tekû'a, approximately 5 miles south of Bethlehem; see RobBR i.486f. BuhlG 157 f. TaylorHast. DB TEKOA GASmTwelve Proph. i.74 f. DrAmos 1:1. Topical Lexicon Geographical Setting Tekoa lay approximately six miles south of Bethlehem on the edge of the Judean hill country overlooking the wilderness that descends toward the Dead Sea. Its elevated position (over 2,700 feet / 820 meters above sea level) afforded a natural lookout across the desert approaches to Jerusalem. The town’s strategic height explains its repeated appearance in military contexts and its suitability as a place for watchmen and heralds to sound alarms. Genealogical Connections Tekoa gave its name to a clan within the tribe of Judah. After the death of Hezron, “Caleb went to Ephrathah, and his wife Abiah bore Hur the father of Tekoa” (1 Chronicles 2:24). A second genealogy in 1 Chronicles 4:5–7 records the sons of Ashhur “the father of Tekoa,” showing that families rooted in the town maintained distinct identity within Judah’s tribal structure. These references underline Tekoa’s integration into the covenant people and its contribution to Judah’s population and leadership lines. Military and Strategic Importance During the divided monarchy King Rehoboam fortified Tekoa as part of a defensive ring protecting the southern kingdom: “He built up Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa” (2 Chronicles 11:6). A century later, King Jehoshaphat mustered his forces there when facing the coalition of Moab and Ammon. “Early in the morning they rose and went out to the Wilderness of Tekoa” (2 Chronicles 20:20). The site’s vantage allowed Judah’s army both to assemble safely and to view the terrain where the Lord would bring about a miraculous victory. Jeremiah likewise invoked Tekoa’s prominence when warning Jerusalem of impending judgment: “Flee for safety, O people of Benjamin, from Jerusalem! Sound the trumpet in Tekoa” (Jeremiah 6:1). The prophet assumes the town’s suitability as an early-warning station that could relay danger to the capital. The Wise Woman of Tekoa In 2 Samuel 14 King David’s commander Joab sought to reunite the king with his estranged son Absalom. “So Joab sent to Tekoa and brought a wise woman from there” (2 Samuel 14:2). Her eloquent parable persuaded David to reconsider his stance toward Absalom. Scripture presents her as discerning, courageous, and rhetorically gifted, qualities associated with Tekoa’s inhabitants and, by extension, with godly wisdom available even in small towns of Judah. Prophetic Significance: Amos Amos introduces himself as “among the shepherds of Tekoa” (Amos 1:1). The humble shepherd-prophet emerged from this rural settlement to confront the opulence and complacency of Israel’s northern kingdom. Tekoa’s rugged environs and proximity to the wilderness shaped Amos’s imagery of roaring lions, withering pastures, and plumb lines dropped on crooked walls. His background illustrates how the Lord raises messengers from seemingly insignificant places to proclaim covenant truth to the nations. Theological and Ministry Themes 1. Vigilance and Warning: Tekoa’s high ground became a trumpet site in Jeremiah’s day, reminding believers to watch, pray, and warn others of spiritual danger. Summary Tekoa stands in Scripture as a highland town endowed with strategic value, a community producing notable servants, and a symbol of prophetic watchfulness. From genealogical roots in Judah to battlefield assemblies and the trumpet blasts of warning, Tekoa’s seven biblical references weave a consistent message: the Lord employs both place and people to advance His redemptive purposes and to call His covenant nation to wisdom, vigilance, and faith. Forms and Transliterations וּבִתְק֙וֹעַ֙ ובתקוע מִתְּק֑וֹעַ מתקוע תְּק֑וֹעַ תְּק֔וֹעָה תְּקֽוֹעַ׃ תְק֔וֹעַ תְקֽוֹעַ׃ תקוע תקוע׃ תקועה mit·tə·qō·w·a‘ mitteKoa mittəqōwa‘ tə·qō·w·‘āh tə·qō·w·a‘ ṯə·qō·w·a‘ teKoa teKoah təqōw‘āh təqōwa‘ ṯəqōwa‘ ū·ḇiṯ·qō·w·a‘ ūḇiṯqōwa‘ uvitKoaLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 2 Samuel 14:2 HEB: וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח יוֹאָב֙ תְּק֔וֹעָה וַיִּקַּ֥ח מִשָּׁ֖ם NAS: sent to Tekoa and brought KJV: sent to Tekoah, and fetched INT: sent Joab to Tekoa and brought there 1 Chronicles 2:24 1 Chronicles 4:5 2 Chronicles 11:6 2 Chronicles 20:20 Jeremiah 6:1 Amos 1:1 7 Occurrences |