A wady (Hebrew nachal ) where dwelt Delilah (Judges 16:4). Near Gaza probably (Judges 16:21). Sorek means "a choice kind of vine" with dusky colored grapes. The Arabic now expresses a purple grade of Syria, noted for small raisins, soft minute pips, and red wine. Named from plantations of this vine; so Masrekah (Genesis 36:36). Porter identifies Sorek with wady Surar (Hebrew "pebbles"), the drain of the western Judaean hills, running as a broad flat valley through the lower hills and reaching the sea at Yebneh. The valley separates the rugged mountains of the 'Arkub from the "low rolling hills" of the shephelah , beyond which is the Philistine plain. The valley of Sorek joins the great gorge which bounded Judah on the N.; at the junction lie the ruins of Bethshemesh on a knoll. On the south is Timnath, where Samson slew the lion; on the north are Sur'a and Eshu'a, the ancient Zoreah and Eshtaol. Βeit Αtab ("rock Etam") is two miles westward; on the N. side of the valley is a chapel dedicated to neby Samit, a name related to Samson. (See TIMNATH.)
From the co-author of the classic Jamieson, Fausset and Brown Commentary, Fausset's Bible Dictionary stands as one of the best single-volume Bible encyclopedias ever written for general use. The author's writing style is always clear and concise, and he tackles issues important to the average student of the Bible, not just the Biblical scholars. This makes Fausset an excellent tool for both everyday Bible study and in-depth lesson or sermon preparation.Wikipedia
Read More