Eshtaol
Archimandrite Nikifor’s Biblical Encyclopedia
(a path in the ravine) (Josh. 15:33) — one of the cities of Judah situated in the lowland, afterward given to the tribe of Dan (19:41). It is generally mentioned together with the city of Zorah and the camp of Dan, an important position of the Israelites during their wars with the Philistines, and lay between them (Josh. 13:25 [as given]; 18:11, 12). Between these cities lay also the burial place of Samson and his family (16:31). From this city, and from Zorah, the Danites set out, six hundred strong, to take the city of Laish (18:2, 8, 11), which they afterward named Dan. According to the testimony of Eusebius, Eshtaol lay ten English miles from Eleutheropolis to the north, on the road to Nicopolis. It is supposed that the poor village of Eshua, inhabited by Arabs, now stands on the site of ancient Eshtaol.