Eshtemoa: Obedience, a town in the mountains of Judah
(Joshua 21:14; 1 Chronicles 6:57) which
was allotted, with the land round it, to the priests. It was
frequented by David and his followers during their wanderings; and he
sent presents of the spoil of the Amalekites to his friends there
(1 Samuel 30:28) It is identified with es-Semu'a, a village about 3 1/2
miles east of Socoh, and 7 or 8 miles south of Hebron, around which
there are ancient remains of the ruined city. It is the centre of the
"south country" or Negeb. It is also called "Eshtemoh"
(Joshua 15:50)
