Bible Dictionary
Achzib
Achzib was the name of two towns: one in the lowlands of Judah and another on the Phoenician coast within Asher’s assigned territory. The coastal town remained in the hands of its inhabitants.
Definition
Achzib was the name of two towns. One lay in the lowlands of Judah; the other was a Phoenician coastal town assigned to Asher but retained by its inhabitants. The name suggests lying, falsehood, or disappointment.
Biblical Usage
The Judahite town appears among the cities allotted to Judah and is also called Chezib and Cozeba. The coastal town is named within Asher’s territory, though Asher did not possess it.
Historical Background
The Judahite town is associated with Ain Kezbeh. The coastal Achzib was north of Accho and is identified with modern Ez-Zib. The sources state that its Phoenician inhabitants were too strongly established to be driven out by Israel.
Scripture References
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Falsehood. (1.) A town in the Shephelah, or plain country of Judah (Josh. 15:44); probably the same as Chezib of Gen. 38:5 = Ain Kezbeh. (2.) A Phoenician city (the Gr. Ecdippa), always retained in their possession though assigned to the tribe of Asher (Josh. 19:29; Judg. 1:31). It is identified with the modern es-Zib, on the Mediterranean, about 8 miles north of Accho.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
(lying, false).
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>ak'-zib ('akhzibh, "lying" or "disappointing"): The name of two towns in Palestine:</p><p>(1) A town in western Judah in the lowlands, mentioned in connection with Mareshah and Keilah as one of the cities allotted to Judah (Jos 15:44), and in Mic (1:14), where it suggests play upon its meaning, "deceptive" or "failing," possibly the place having received its name from a winter spring or brook, which failed in summer. It is also called Chezib (kezibh (Ge 38:5)), where Judah was at the time of the birth of his son Shelah. In 1Ch 4:22 it is called Cozeba, the King James Version "Chozeba" (kozebha'), clearly seen to be the same as Achzib, from the places with which it is grouped.</p><p>(2) It has been identified with the modern `Ayin-Kezbeh in the valley of Elah, and north of Adullam.</p><p>Edward Mack</p><p>(3) Mod Zib Septuagint variously: Jos 19:29, Codex Vaticanus, Echozob, Codex Alexandrinus, Achzeiph; Jud 1:31, Codex Vaticanus, Aschazei, Codex Alexandrinus, Aschendei, Greek Ecdippa: A small town some miles north of Acre on the coast. It is mentioned in Jos 19:29 as falling within the possessions of the tribe of Asher, but they never occupied it, as they did not the neighboring Acre (Acco). The Phoenician inhabitants of the coast were too strongly entrenched to be driven out by a people who had no fleet. The cities on the coast doubtless aided one another, and Sidon had become rich and powerful before this and could succor such a small town in case of attack. Achzib was a coast town, nine miles north of Acco, now known as Ez-Zib. It appears in the Assyrian inscriptions as Aksibi and Sennacherib enumerates it among the Phoenician towns that he took at the same times as Acco (702 BC). It was never important and is now an insignificant village among the sand dunes of the coast. It was the bordertown of Galilee on the west, what lay beyond being unholy ground.</p><p>H. Porter</p>