Tirsa (Heb. Tirtsâh, “pleasure”). 1. Youngest daughter of Zelophehad of the tribe of Manasseh. Zelophehad had no male heirs, so her inheritance had to go to her daughters (Num 26:33; 27:1; 36:11; Josh 17:3-6). 2. City renowned for its beauty (Son 6:4). Joshua conquered it from the Canaanites (Josh 12:24), but it did not rise to prominence until the time of the Hebrew kings when Jeroboam made it his royal residence and capital of the northern kingdom (1Ki 14:17). She held that position until Omri built Samaria and moved the capital there (15:21, 33; 16:6, 8, 9, 15, 17, 23, 24). However, Tirzah remained important (2Ki 15:14, 16). She has been identified with the northern city of Tell el-Fâr’ah, 11 km northeast of Nablus. Excavations carried out at that site in 9 expeditions, between 1946 and 1960 and under the direction of R. de Vaux, have shown that the ancient history of Tell el Fár’ah agrees with that of Tirsa. Excavations have shown that the city was already surrounded by strong walls in the Early Bronze Age (3rd millennium BC). After its destruction, it was rebuilt again in the Middle Bronze Age, at the time of the patriarchs. After another period of decline, it flourished again while the kings of Israel ruled, especially when it was the capital of the northern kingdom. In the days of Omri the city was abandoned. Some of the houses that were being built were left unfinished, evidently because the royal decree determined that the capital be moved to Samaria. (Map VI, D-3 gives 2 possible locations for Tirzah: Tell el-Fár’ah, northeast of Shechem, which is the correct location; and Jemma’in, southwest of Shechem, which is to be discarded.) Bib .: R. de Vaux, PEQ 88 (1956):125-140; EAEHL II:395-404.
Source: Evangelical Bible Dictionary
delight. Name of woman and city. 1. Youngest daughter of Zelophehad, Nm 26,33; 27, 1; Jos 17, 3. 2. Canaanite city, Jos 12, 24, was assigned to Manasseh, mentioned for its beauty: “beautiful you are, my friend, like Tirsah”, Ct 6, 4. Residential of the Northern Kingdom under Jeroboam I and his successors to Omrí, who besieged the city, causing Zimrí to commit suicide after burning the palace, 1 Kings 16, 17-18. Omrí transferred the capital to Samaria, six years later 1 R 14, 17; 15, 21 and 23; 16, 8; 16, 23-24.
Digital Bible Dictionary, Grupo C Service & Design Ltda., Colombia, 2003
Source: Digital Bible Dictionary
1. The youngest daughter of Zelophehad (Num 26:33; Jos 17:3).
2. Population within 10 km. east of Samaria, captured by Joshua (Jos 12:24). It must have been remarkable for her beauty, since Solomon compared his beautiful Shulammite wife to the beautiful Tirzah (Song of Sons 6:4). When the kingdom was divided after Solomon’s death, it became the capital of the northern kingdom (1Ki 14:17). Baasha (1Ki 15: 21-33), her son Elah and Zimri (1Ki 16: 6-15) reigned over her. Omri defeated Tibni and, since Zimri had destroyed the palace at Tirzah (1Ki 16:18), moved the capital to Samaria (1Ki 16:23-24). While Uzziah was ruling Judah, Menachem of Tirzah conspired against Shallum of Israel, killed him, and began a wicked reign of ten years (2Ki 15:16-18).
Source: Hispanic World Bible Dictionary
The city of Tirzah was originally a Canaanite city of remarkable beauty (Song 6:4). It was conquered by Joshua (Josh. 12:24) and later became the capital of Israel in the days of Jeroboam I (1 Kings 14:17), Baasha (1 Kings 15:21, 33; 16:6 ); Elah and Zimri (1 Kings 16:8, 9, 15). Zimri set fire to the palace while he was inside when he was besieged there by Omri (1 Kings 16:17, 18). After six years, Omri moved his capital from him to Samaria. A later resident of Tirzah, Menahem, overthrew Shallum and usurped the throne (2 Kings 15:14, 16).
I. Identification. The exact location of Tirzah is difficult to establish from the Old Testament evidence. A location in the general area of Samaria may be suspected and a number of large promontories have been suggested in the area, including Tulluza to the north of Mount Ebal, Teyasir further north and Jemma†™in 11 kms. south of Shechem. Two of these names are similar to Tirsa. However, the one that seems to be with more certainty is the *Tell el-Far†™ah (promontory of the high hill), some 600 m. long and 300 meters. wide, situated on the road between Shechem to Betsan and Damascus at the head of the Wadi el Far†™ah where the Transjordanian road reaches the central highlands. As early as 1931, WF Albright had suggested this identification (Journal of the Palestine Oriental Society, XI, pp. 241 ff.). A surface survey indicated a period of occupation that would harmonize with the literary evidence.
II. Excavation. Since 1946, a series of campaigns have been undertaken by the †œDominican Ecole Biblique† under the direction of Father R. de Vaux, assisted by Father AM Steve. A clear picture is thus available. Tell el-Far†™ah was first occupied during the Middle Chalcolithic period (half of the fourth millennium BC) until ca. 600 BC BC Five periods of occupation are distinguishable from the Early Bronze Age level (ca. 3200–2100 BC). The remains of the Middle and Late Bronze Ages are more or less scattered as the city was severely destroyed in those days. A small sanctuary from the Middle Bronze Age (ca. 2100–1550 BC) has been discovered. Iron Age I (ca. 1200–900 BC) and II (ca. 900–600 BC) are represented by four periods of occupation, which the excavators describe as: level I, end Iron Age II (ca. 723–600 BC); Level II, the first part of Iron Age II (ca. 8th century to 723 BC); intermediate level (9th century); level III, the iron age I (end of the 11th century to the beginning of the 9th century BC). The Israelite occupation of the days of the Northern Kingdom of Israel is represented by levels I to III. The destruction of level III may well represent the time of Omri’s attack (1 Kings 16:17) in 885 BC. AD After the abandonment of Tirza in favor of Samaria some deterioration of the city could be expected and this is reflected in a poor colonization of the intermediate level dating from the ninth century BC. JC During the 8th century, Tirsa entered a new phase. Level II (8th century to 723 BC) revealed a number of well-built houses, a large administrative building, a massive gate in and along the city wall, a large number of smaller houses and more poor. This confirms the picture presented by the eighth century prophets (Am. 5:11, Isa. 9:8–10). This phase of city life ended with the Assyrian invasion of 723–721 BC. BC The city’s last period, level I, represents the final days of its life during the years of Assyrian rule culminating in the city’s destruction in the late 7th century, possibly by Nebuchadnezzar. It was a poor city compared to the one represented by level II.
Comparison of the archeological facts from Tirzah with those from Samaria offer an interesting correlation to the sequence of occupation of the two sites that agrees closely with the Old Testament evidence.
BIBLIOGRAPHY: WF Albright, †œThe site of Tirzah and the Topography of Western Manasseh† , Journal of the Palestine Exploration Society, XI, 1930, pp. 241–251. GE Wright, †œThe Excavation at Tell El-Far†™ah† , BA , XII, 3, 1949, pp. 66–68. Articles in RB by R. de Vaux and AM Steve, from 1947 (Vol. LIV onwards, especially Vol. LXII, 1955, pp. 587–589.
Source: Archaeological Biblical Dictionary
(Delight). Name of person and place of the OT.
1. Character in the descendants of Manasseh. Daughter of Zelophehad. She sister of †¢Maala, †¢Hogla, †¢Noa, and †¢Milca (Num 26:33). With her sisters she came to Moses to demand that they be allowed to inherit her father, who had no sons. God authorized that they receive the inheritance, and the right of the daughters to inherit was established (Num 27:1-8).
. One of the Canaanite cities whose kings were defeated by Joshua (Jos 12:24). It became the capital of the Northern Kingdom before Samaria was built (1Ki 14:17; 1Ki 15:21, 1Ki 15:33; 1Ki 16:6-8). It was in T. that †¢Zimri killed the king †¢Elah, but Omri attacked him and Zimri committed suicide, setting fire to the royal palace (1Ki 16:9-20). From T. Manahem he led a conspiracy against †¢ Shallum, whom he killed (2Ki 15:14-16). The name of T. seems to suggest that it was a town with a beautiful panorama, since it is said in Songs: †œYou are beautiful, O my friend, like T.† (Can 6:4). It is identified with Tel al-Faria, about 11 km NE of Shechem.
Source: Christian Bible Dictionary
tip, BIOG CITY WOMAN MUAT
sit, a2, 349, 172
vet, = “grace”, “charm”. (a) The youngest of the five daughters of Zelophehad (Num. 26:33; 27:1; 36:11; Josh. 17:3). (b) City renowned for its beauty (Song 6:4). Joshua took it from the Canaanites (Josh. 12:24). Jeroboam I made it his residence (1 Kings 14:17) and it became the capital of the northern kingdom (1 Kings 15:21, 33; 16:6, 8, 9, 15, 17), but left of being when Omri had built Samaria to establish his residence there (1 Kings 16:23, 24; 2 Kings 15:14, 16). Plausible identification: the great hill of Tell el-Fãr’ah, about 11 km northeast of Nablus (Shechem).
Source: New Illustrated Bible Dictionary
= “grace”, “charm”.
(a) The youngest of the five daughters of Zelophehad (Num. 26:33; 27:1; 36:11; Josh. 17:3).
(b) City renowned for its beauty (Song 6:4). Joshua took it from the Canaanites (Josh. 12:24). Jeroboam I made it his residence (1 Kings 14:17) and it became the capital of the northern kingdom (1 Kings 15:21, 33; 16:6, 8, 9, 15, 17), but left of being when Omri had built Samaria to establish his residence there (1 Kings 16:23, 24; 2 Kings 15:14, 16). Plausible identification: the great hill of Tell el-Fãr’ah, about 11 km northeast of Nablus (Shechem).
– Five or six kilometers north of Shechem. Their king was killed by Joshua
(Joshua 12:24) and replaced Shechem as the capital of the northern kingdom
(1 Kings 14:17ff.). Here Manahem matured his rebellion against
Shallum, 2 Kings 15:14.
Source: Geographic Dictionary of the Bible
1. Youngest daughter of Zelophehad (Num. 26.33; 27.1; Jos. 17.3).
2. Canaanite city that stood out for its beauty (Cnt. 6.4), which was located in the N part of Mt. Ephraim, at the head of Wadi Farah, through which passed the route from Transjordan to the central mountainous region where Shechem, Samaria, Dothan, and other cities were. She was captured by Joshua (Jos. 12.24) and assigned to Manasseh (Jos. 17.2–3). Jeroboam I lived in Tirsa (1 Kings 14.17), and the city became the capital of the N kingdom at the time of Baasha (1 Kings 15.21, 23; 16.6), Ela and Zimri (1 Kings 16.8–9, fifteen). Zimri burned the palace over his own head when he was locked up in it by Omri (1 Kings 16:17–18). After six years Omri moved the capital to Samaria, which was more central and easier to defend. In…