Bible Dictionaries
Adullam

Holman Bible Dictionary

(uh duhl' luhm) Place name meaning, “sealed off place.” City five miles south of Beth-shemesh in Judah, probably modern Tell esh-Sheikh Madkur. Joshua conquered it (Joshua 12:15 ), though no story of its conquest appears in the Bible. Hirah, a friend of Judah, son of Jacob, was from Adullam (Genesis 38:1 , Genesis 38:12 ). He took the sheep Judah had pledged to Tamar and discovered Tamar did not live where they first encountered her (Genesis 38:20-22 ). David escaped to the cave at Adullam when he feared Achish, king of Gath (1 Samuel 22:1 ). There David collected an army from the lower class and outcasts of society. There he assembled an army against the Philistines (2 Samuel 23:13 ). Micah, the prophet, used David's experience almost 300 years later to warn his people that again their glorious king would have to flee to the caves of Adullam to escape an enemy who would take possession of the country because of Judah's sin (Micah 1:15 ). In his build up of Judah's defenses King Rehoboam, Solomon's son, rebuilt Adullam's defenses, stationed soldiers, and stored supplies at Adullam (2 Chronicles 11:7 ). After returning from the Exile, some members of the tribe of Judah lived at Adullam (Nehemiah 11:30 ).