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TIRZAH

(Heb. ṭirṣâ)

(PLACE)

A city in the hill country of Samaria whose Canaanite king was defeated by Joshua (Josh. 12:24). Tirzah later served as capital of the northern kingdom under Jeroboam I (1 Kgs. 14:17), Baasha (15:21, 33), and Elah, who was assassinated there by Zimri (16:6, 8-10), who in turn was besieged by Omri and died in the destruction of the palace after a seven-day reign (vv. 15-18). Omri ruled from Tirzah for six years before moving the capital to Samaria (1 Kgs. 16:21-24). Later, Menahem usurped the throne of Israel (ca. 752 b.c.e.) from Tirzah (2 Kgs. 15:14).

Tirzah is generally identified with the northern Tell el-Fârʿah (1823.1822), ca. 11 km. (7 mi.) NE of Shechem. The town’s name (“pleasure” or “beauty”) may have resulted from its location amid one of the most beautiful landscapes in the Holy Land (Cant. 6:4). Excavations at the site between 1946 and 1960 by Roland de Vaux discovered occupation in the Early, Middle, and Late Bronze Ages. It is not clear from the Bible (Josh. 12:24) or archaeology if the Israelites brought an end to Canaanite Tirzah. Israelite Tirzah of the late 10th and early 9th centuries featured well-planned houses, each of a similar size and plan, reflecting little social inequality. This city was violently destroyed near the beginning of the 9th century, possibly in the invasion of Egyptian pharaoh Shishak. But the date of the destruction also accords well with the biblical account of Omri’s siege and Zimri’s suicidal fire of his own palace (1 Kgs. 16:17-18). Over the burned debris at the site, foundations of unfinished structures were found. The abandoned work may be related to Omri’s decision to move the capital to Samaria.

In the 8th century Tirzah became a vibrant city again. The remains of this period include a group of large private homes which testify to the prosperity of their inhabitants. But this quarter was separated by a long straight wall from the miserable houses of the poor, huddled together in stark contrast to the comfortable villas of the rich. Tirzah and its fine houses were completely destroyed by fire, probably by the Assyrians in 723. Following a poor occupation, the site was finally abandoned ca. 600.

Bibliography. R. de Vaux, “Tirzah,” in Archaeology and Old Testament Study, ed. D. W. Thomas (1967, repr. London, 1978), 371-83; de Vaux, P. de Miroschedji, and A. Chambon, “Farʿah, Tell el-(North),” NEAEHL 2:433-40.

Daniel C. Browning, Jr.

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

TIRZAH

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)