Esthaol (Bible)

Esthaol or Eshtaol, in Hebrew: אֶשְׁתָּאֹל (Eshṭa'ol), in Ancient Greek: Εσθαολ (Esthaol), is a town mentioned in the Bible. It corresponds to a locality near Sar'a, approximately 20 km west of Jerusalem.

The place is mentioned seven times in the Masoretic text.^{[1][2][3][4][5]} In the manuscripts of the Septuagint, there are sometimes competing forms, such as Ασταωλ (Astaol).^[6] According to the biblical text, Samson is said to come from its vicinity.^[1][2][7] Additionally, part of the tribe of Dan is said to have left this town to settle elsewhere.^[5][7]

The etymology of the term suggests that it may have been a place for consulting oracles, although this is not clear.^[7] The locality was situated in the vicinity of the later city of Zorah/Sar'a.^{[7][8][9][10]}