Lexical Summary Tirtsah: Tirzah Original Word: תִּרְצָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Tirzah From ratsah; delightsomeness; Tirtsah, a place in Palestine; also an Israelitess -- Tirzah. see HEBREW ratsah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom ratsah Definition daughter of Zelophehad, also a Canaanite city NASB Translation Tirzah (18). Brown-Driver-Briggs תִּרְצָה proper name, feminine and of a location (pleasure, beauty); — 1. feminine daughter of Selophehad of Gilead Numbers 26:33; Numbers 27:1; Numbers 36:11; Joshua 17:3; Θερσα. 2. location old Canaanite city Joshua 12:24, early cap. of Northern Israel (until Omri) 1 Kings 14:17 (תִּרְצָ֫תָה), 1 Kings 15:21,33; 1 Kings 16:6,8,9 (twice in verse); 1 Kings 16:15,17,23, Θαρσα, usually Θερσα; Menahem's base of operations 2 Kings 15:14,16 (Θαρς(ε)ιλα 2 Kings 15:14, EusebOnom. 263, 62, ed. Lag compare Θαρσιλα, village of Samaritans in Batanea, and BuhlGeogr. 247 conjecture Tesîl, 20 miles east of Lake Gennesaret, but this too remote); in simile of beauty (omitted by ᵐ5) Songs 6:4 ("" יְרוּשָׁלַם); — site not certain; conjectured are: Tallûza, just north of Mt. Ebal (RobBR iii. 302 f.), Tayaƒir, approximately 10 miles further northeast, > e‰-ˆîre, south of Gerizim (see, on these, GASmGeogr. 355 BuhlGeogr. 203 AglenHast. DB. under the word). Topical Lexicon Overview Tirzah appears seventeen times as a place and once as a personal name, weaving through Israel’s journey from wilderness wanderings, through the conquest, into the fractured politics of the Northern Kingdom, and finally into the poetic celebration of marital love. Together the references present a tapestry of covenant inheritance, royal ambition, divine judgment, and spiritual beauty. Occurrences in Scripture Numbers 26:33; 27:1; 36:11 Joshua 12:24; 17:3 1 Kings 14:17; 15:21, 33; 16:6, 8-9, 15, 17, 23 Song of Songs 6:4 Tirzah as a Personal Name: Daughter of Zelophehad Five sisters—Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah—stand before Moses in Numbers 27:1 to plead for an inheritance so their father’s name “may not be lost from his clan because he had no son.” The Lord affirms their petition, establishing precedent for female inheritance rights within Israel’s covenant structure (Numbers 27:5-7). Tirzah therefore points to: Tirzah as a City in Canaan Joshua records Tirzah as a Canaanite royal city conquered by Israel (Joshua 12:24) and later assigned within Manasseh’s territory (Joshua 17:3 indirectly through the family of Hepher). Located at modern Tell el-Far‘ah (North), it lies in the fertile hills northeast of Shechem, commanding routes from the Jordan Valley into the heartland. Capital of the Northern Kingdom After the kingdom divided, Jeroboam I established Tirzah as a royal residence. “Jeroboam’s wife got up and departed for Tirzah” (1 Kings 14:17). For roughly fifty years it functioned as Israel’s capital: The rapid turnover of kings within Tirzah illustrates the instability produced when rulers ignore covenant responsibilities and pursue idolatry. Yet the city’s strategic value explains why rival claimants sought control of it. Later References in Kings Decades after the capital moved, Tirzah still influenced northern politics. “Menahem son of Gadi went up from Tirzah to Samaria and attacked Pekahiah” (2 Kings 15:14). The mention demonstrates Tirzah’s persistent role as a power base even when no longer the official seat of government. Prophetic and Poetic Imagery Song of Songs elevates Tirzah into the realm of metaphor: “You are as beautiful as Tirzah, my darling, as lovely as Jerusalem” (Song of Songs 6:4). By pairing Tirzah with Jerusalem, Solomon draws on the city’s reputation for ordered beauty, suggesting tranquil perfection rather than chaotic politics. The verse subtly reminds readers that places marred by human failure can still symbolize grace and splendor when viewed through covenant eyes. Archaeological Correlations Tell el-Far‘ah excavations have uncovered fortifications, administrative buildings, and a royal reservoir from the Iron Age—material evidence that fits the biblical portrayal of Tirzah as a capital city with a palace complex and defensive capacity sufficient to withstand sieges like Omri’s. Theological and Ministry Lessons 1. Covenant Equity: Tirzah the daughter shows God’s impartiality in inheritance; ministry today must reflect the same commitment to fairness. Application for the Church Today • Encourage believers, like Zelophehad’s daughters, to approach God boldly for rightful promises in Christ. Forms and Transliterations בְּתִרְצָ֑ה בְּתִרְצָ֔ה בְּתִרְצָ֖ה בְּתִרְצָֽה׃ בְתִרְצָה֙ בתרצה בתרצה׃ וְתִרְצָֽה׃ ותרצה׃ כְּתִרְצָ֔ה כתרצה מִתִּרְצָ֔ה מִתִּרְצָ֗ה מתרצה תִּרְצָ֖ה תִּרְצָֽה׃ תִרְצָ֑תָה תִרְצָ֗ה תרצה תרצה׃ תרצתה bə·ṯir·ṣāh ḇə·ṯir·ṣāh bəṯirṣāh ḇəṯirṣāh betirTzah kə·ṯir·ṣāh kəṯirṣāh ketirTzah mit·tir·ṣāh mittirṣāh mittirTzah ṯir·ṣā·ṯāh tir·ṣāh ṯir·ṣāh tirṣāh ṯirṣāh ṯirṣāṯāh tirTzah tirTzatah vetirTzah wə·ṯir·ṣāh wəṯirṣāhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Numbers 26:33 HEB: חָגְלָ֥ה מִלְכָּ֖ה וְתִרְצָֽה׃ NAS: Hoglah, Milcah and Tirzah. KJV: Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. INT: Hoglah Milcah and Tirzah Numbers 27:1 Numbers 36:11 Joshua 12:24 Joshua 17:3 1 Kings 14:17 1 Kings 15:21 1 Kings 15:33 1 Kings 16:6 1 Kings 16:8 1 Kings 16:9 1 Kings 16:9 1 Kings 16:15 1 Kings 16:17 1 Kings 16:23 2 Kings 15:14 2 Kings 15:16 Songs 6:4 18 Occurrences |
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