Eshtaol

Esh´tay-uhl

A city in the lowlands of Judah counted as belonging to both Judah and Dan (Josh 15:33; Josh 19:41). It was probably originally occupied by Danites (Judg 13:25; Judg 18:2-11) and then later occupied by Judah when the Danites were forced to move to the north (Judg 18:11). Evidence of this is seen in 1Chr 2:53, where Eshtaolites are regarded as descendants of Judah. It is also possible that the camp of Dan at Kiriath-jearim (Judg 18:12) led to a mixing of the two tribes in this region. Eshtaol is tentatively located near modern Ishwa, about fourteen miles west of Jerusalem and about six miles slightly southwest of Kiriath-jearim.