the Third Week of Advent
Click here to learn more!
Bible Encyclopedias
Achzib
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
or (Heb. Akzib'. אֶכְזַּיב, falsehood; Sept. Ἀχζείβ, but in Mic. μάταιος and Vulg. maendacium), the name of two places, sometimes Latinized Aczib.
1. A town in the plain of Judah, adjoining the Highlands, mentioned between Keilah and Mareshah (Joshua 15:44). It appears to have proved faithless to the national cause on the Assyrian invasion (Micah 1:14); hence this passage contains a play on the name: "the houses of Achzib (אֶכְזַּיב ) shall be a lie (אִכְזִב )." It is probably the same as the CHEZIB (See CHEZIB) in Canaan where Shelah was born (Genesis 38:5), and perhaps also the CHOZEBA (See CHOZEBA) where his descendants were finally located (1 Chronicles 4:22). In the time of Eusebius, Onomast. s.v. X ασβεί ) it was a deserted village near Eleutheropolis toward Adullam. From the associated localities, also, it appears to have been situated not far north-east of the former.
2. A maritime city assigned to the tribe of Asher (Joshua 19:29), but from which the Israelites were never able to expel the Phoenicians (Judges 1:31). According to Eusebius (Onom. s.v. Ἀχζίφ ) it was 9 (according to the Jerusalem Itinerary 12) Roman miles north of Accho or Ptolemais. In the Talmud (Shebiith, 6, 1; Challah, 4, 8) it is called Kezib (כְּזיב ), and in later times Ecdippa (τὰ ῎Εκδιππα, Josephus, War, 1, 13, 4; Ptolmy 5:15; Pliny, 5:17), from the Aramaean pronunciation (אֶכַדּיב ). Josephus also (Ant. 5, 1, 22) gives the name as Arce or Actippus (Ἀρκὴ . . . .ἡ καὶ Ἀκτιπούς ).
In the vicinity (at the mouth of the Nahr Herdawil, comp. Wilson, Lands of the Bible, 2, 233) was the Casale Huberti of the Crusaders (Ritter, Erdk. 16, 782). It was first identified by Maundrell (Journey, March 21) in the modern es-Zib (comp. Vit. Salad. p. 98), on the Mediterranean coast, about ten miles north of Acre (Robinson's Researches, 3, Append. p. 133; new ed. 3, 628). It stands on an ascent close by the sea-side, overhanging the ancient Roman road, and is a small place with a few palm-trees rising above the dwellings (Pococke, East, 2, 115; Richter, Wallf. p. 70; Irby and Mangles, p. 196; Buckingham, Palest. 1, 99; Legh, in Machmichael's Journey, p. 250; De Saulcy's Narrative, 1, 66; comp. Lightfoot, Opp. 2, 219; Fuller, Miscel. p. 4, 15; Cellarii Notit. 2, 481; Reland, Paloest. p. 544; Gesenius, Thes. Heb p. 674). It has evident traces of antiquity, but could never have been a large city (Thomson's Land and Book, 1, 471).
of Judah (Joshua 15:44) is regarded by Tristram as the present Ain Kezbeh, near Beit-Nettif (Bible Places, p. 43), not meaning, as proposed by Keil (Comnment. ad loc.), the "place of springs called Kussabeh with ruins in the neighborhood" (Robinson, Bibl. Res. ii, 48), which may, perhaps, be included in the group of towns in which Achzib is mentioned (Nezib, Keilah, Mareshah, etc.), although very much south of them; but the spot marked on the Ordnance Map as Ain Kezbeh at the fork of the road five eighths of a mile south-east of Beit-Nettif, which, however, is too far north, being in a different group (Jarmuth, Socoh, etc.). (See JUDAH, TRIBE OF).
These files are public domain.
McClintock, John. Strong, James. Entry for 'Achzib'. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/tce/a/achzib.html. Harper & Brothers. New York. 1870.
