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Friday, October 31st, 2025
the Week of Proper 25 / Ordinary 30
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Zelzah
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
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zel´za ( צלצח , celcaḥ ; ἁλλομένους μεγάλα , halloménous megála ): A place where Samuel told Saul he would meet two men with news that the asses were found. Its position is defined as "by Rachel's sepulchre, in the border of Benjamin" ( 1 Samuel 10:2 ). It has been thought that the place of meeting was sufficiently indicated without the word becelcāḥ , which is translated "at Zelzah," and that this cannot therefore be a place-name. The Septuagint has "leaping mightily" or "in great haste" (Ewald) points to a different text. Whether the Greek can be so translated is also a question, as megala does not elsewhere occur as an adverb. Some corruption of the text is probable. The border of Benjamin may be roughly determined, but the tomb of Rachel is now unknown. No name like Zelzah has been recovered in the district. Smith ("Samuel," ICC , at the place) suggests that we should read "Zela" for "Zelzah" (צלע , cēlā‛ , for צלצח , celcaḥ ).
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Bibliography Information
Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. Entry for 'Zelzah'. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/isb/z/zelzah.html. 1915.
