Lexical Summary Adullam: Adullam Original Word: עֲדֻלָּם Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Adullam Probably from the passive participle of the same as Adlay; Adullam, a place in Palestine -- Adullam. see HEBREW Adlay NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom an unused word Definition a Canaanite city NASB Translation Adullam (8). Brown-Driver-Briggs עֲדֻלָּם proper name, of a location old Canaanite city, ᵐ5 Οδολλαμ, with king Joshua 12:15 (D), in the שְׁפֵלָה Joshua 15:35 (P; ᵐ5L Αδαλαμ ), compare Micah 1:15; Nehemiah 11:30; (re-)built by Rehod. according to 2Chronicles 11:17 (Οδολαμ); מְעָרַת ׳ע (read מְצֻדַת, מְצָדַת, see מְעָרָה below I. ערר) 1 Samuel 22:1; 2 Samuel 23:13; 1 Chronicles 11:15; site probably I`d-el-Mîye (`Aid el-Ma), approximately 13 miles west-southwest from Bethlehem, see GASmGeogr.229 BuhlGeogr.193 and references. Topical Lexicon Geographical Setting Adullam stood in the Shephelah—the low hill country of Judah—approximately midway between Bethlehem and Lachish, overlooking the Valley of Elah. The ancient mound identified with Tel Adullam (Khirbet esh-Sheikh Madhkur) commands fertile farmland, natural caves, and easy access to the coastal plain. These caves, carved into soft limestone, supplied ideal refuges for shepherds, fugitives, and later armies. Historical Narrative • Conquest under Joshua “Joshua struck down… the king of Adullam” (Joshua 12:15). The fall of its Amorite ruler placed the site within Israel’s inheritance and testified to the completeness of the land promise. Listed again among the “fourteen cities with their villages” allotted to Judah (Joshua 15:35), Adullam became part of the covenant people’s settled territory. • David’s Refuge “When David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam” (1 Samuel 22:1), the site entered salvation history as a place of deliverance. Dispossessed and hunted, David gathered “about four hundred men” (1 Samuel 22:2) who would become the nucleus of his kingdom. Psalms traditionally linked to this period (e.g., Psalm 34; Psalm 57) celebrate God as a shelter to the outcast, making the cave a living parable of divine refuge and messianic hope. • Exploits of the Mighty Men “Three of the thirty chiefs went down to the rock at the cave of Adullam” (2 Samuel 23:13; cf. 1 Chronicles 11:15). Their daring raid to draw water from Bethlehem’s well—only to see David pour it out before the LORD—underscored covenant loyalty and the sanctity of life God had spared in the wilderness. • Rehoboam’s Fortifications In an age of divided monarchy, “Rehoboam fortified… Adullam” (2 Chronicles 11:7), integrating it into a defensive ring against northern Israel and Philistia. The chronicler highlights Judah’s dependence on strongholds, yet implicitly contrasts human walls with the greater security of covenant faithfulness. • Post-exilic Resettlement “Zanoah, Adullam and their villages” appear among the towns re-inhabited by returning exiles (Nehemiah 11:30). The record affirms continuity of the Judean community after the exile and locates Adullam within restoration geography. Prophetic Significance “I will bring a conqueror against you, O inhabitants of Mareshah; the glory of Israel will come to Adullam” (Micah 1:15). Micah pictures Judah’s nobility retreating to Adullam’s caves as invaders approach. The imagery recalls David’s flight yet now signals national humiliation: the landless king becomes a mirror for landless leaders because of covenant breach. Military and Administrative Importance From the Late Bronze Age through the Hellenistic period, Adullam guarded a strategic crossroads linking Hebron, Jerusalem, and the Philistine plain. Its limestone hills provided easily fortified positions, explaining its repeated inclusion among royal stronghold lists. The abundance of cisterns and subterranean chambers offered secure storage, troop housing, and concealment—features valued by Rehoboam and later Maccabean forces. Archaeological Notes Surveys at Tel Adullam reveal city walls, winepresses, rock-cut tombs, and pottery ranging from the Middle Bronze Age to the Byzantine era. An extensive cave network matches the biblical description and yields clear evidence of prolonged habitation. While definitive inscriptional proof remains pending, the material culture aligns with the scriptural timeline. Theological and Ministry Applications 1. Refuge in God. David’s experience at Adullam teaches that divine shelter outstrips earthly insecurity (Psalm 57:1). Believers today find that the Lord remains “a rock of refuge” when circumstances turn hostile. Summary Adullam moves from a Canaanite city conquered by Joshua, to David’s sanctuary, to a fortified Judean town, to a prophetic symbol of judgment. Across these scenes the site proclaims the consistent biblical theme: safety resides not in geography but in covenant faithfulness to the Lord, who alone transforms caves into kingdoms and fugitives into faithful servants. Forms and Transliterations וַעֲדֻלָּ֔ם ועדלם עֲדֻלָּ֑ם עֲדֻלָּ֖ם עֲדֻלָּ֥ם עֲדֻלָּֽם׃ עֲדֻלָּם֙ עדלם עדלם׃ ‘ă·ḏul·lām ‘ăḏullām adulLam vaadulLam wa‘ăḏullām wa·‘ă·ḏul·lāmLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Joshua 12:15 HEB: אֶחָ֔ד מֶ֥לֶךְ עֲדֻלָּ֖ם אֶחָֽד׃ NAS: one; the king of Adullam, one; KJV: one; the king of Adullam, one; INT: one the king of Adullam one Joshua 15:35 1 Samuel 22:1 2 Samuel 23:13 1 Chronicles 11:15 2 Chronicles 11:7 Nehemiah 11:30 Micah 1:15 8 Occurrences |
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