sē´kū ( שּׂכוּ , sēkhū ; Codex Vaticanus ἐν τῷ Σεφεί , en tṓ Sepheı́ ; Codex Alexandrinus ἐν Σοκχώ , en Sokchṓ ; the King James Version Sechu ): This name occurs only in the account of David's visit to Samuel ( 1 Samuel 19:22 ). Saul, we are told, went to "Ramah, and came to the great well that is in Secu," where he inquired after Samuel and David. It evidently lay between the residence of Saul at Gibeah and Ramah. It is impossible to come to any sure conclusion regarding it. Conder suggested its identification with Khirbet Suweikeh , which lies to the South of Bı̄reh . This is possible, but perhaps we should read with the Septuagint's Codex Vaticanus, "He came to the cistern of the threshing-floor that is on the bare hill" (en tō Sephei ). The threshing-floors in the East are naturally on high exposed ground where this is possible, and often form part of the area whence water in the rainy season is conducted to cisterns. This might have been a place actually within the city of Ramah.
The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE) was edited by James Orr, John Nuelsen, Edgar Mullins, Morris Evans, and Melvin Grove Kyle and was published complete in 1939. This web site includes the complete text.
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