Azekah

The Biblical verses that record the great victory at Gibeon include a mention of Azekah. "The Lord threw them into confusion before Israel, who defeated them in a great victory at Gibeon. Israel cut them down all the way to Azekah As they fled before Israel on the road down from Beth Horon to Azekah, the LORD hurled large hailstones down on them from the sky ." Joshua 10:10-11].

Overlooking the modern village of Kfar Zecharya is a tel that archeologists have identified as the Biblical Azekah. Located near the Valley of Elah, Azekah was used as the main base of attack by the Philistines led by Goliath.

During the devastating siege of Lachish in the South by the Babylonians, a letter was prepared but never delivered to Azekah. Amid the destroyed gate of Lachish, the sad letter read, "the signal fire of Azekah has gone out." The loss of hope due to the loss of their sister city’s signal is obvious. Though resettled the Persian Period, the city never regained any former importance (cp. Neh. 11:30).