Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897)
Impregnable, a royal Canaanitish city in the Shephelah, or maritime plain of Palestine (Josh. 10:3, 5; 12:11). It was taken and destroyed by the Israelites (Josh. 10:31-33). It afterwards became, under Rehoboam, one of the strongest fortresses of Judah (2 Chr. 10:9). It was assaulted and probably taken by Sennacherib (2 Kings 18:14, 17; 19:8; Isa. 36:2). An account of this siege is given on some slabs found in the chambers of the palace of Koyunjik, and now in the British Museum.
) Lachish has been identified with Tell-el-Hesy, where a cuneiform tablet has been found, containing a letter supposed to be from Amenophis at Amarna in reply to one of the Amarna tablets sent by Zimrida from Lachish. This letter is from the chief of Atim (=Etam, 1 Chr. 4:32) to the chief of Lachish, in which the writer expresses great alarm at the approach of marauders from the Hebron hills. strong is he who has come down. ” This letter shows that “the communication by tablets in cuneiform script was not only usual in writing to Egypt, but in the internal correspondence of the country.
The letter, though not so important in some ways as the Moabite stone and the Siloam text, is one of the most valuable discoveries ever made in Palestine” (Conder’s Tell Amarna Tablets, p. 134). C. 1500. If the theories of experts are correct, the use of the hot-air blast instead of cold air (an improvement in iron manufacture patented by Neilson in 1828) was known fifteen hundred years before Christ.
Smith's Bible Dictionary (1863)
(invincible), a city lying south of Jerusalem, on the borders of Simeon, and belonging to the Amorites, the king of which joined with four others, at the invitation of Adonizedek king of Jerusalem, to chastise the Gibeonites for their league with Israel. (Joshua 10:3,5) They were routed by Joshua at Beth-horon, and the king of Lachish fell a victim with the others under the trees at Makkedah. ver. (Joshua 10:26) The destruction of the town shortly followed the death of the king.
vs. (Joshua 10:31-33) In the special statement that the attack lasted two days, in contradistinction to the other cities which were taken in one (see ver. 35), we gain our first glimpse of that strength of position for which Lachish was afterward remarkable. Lachish was one of the cities fortified and garrisoned by Rehoboam after the revolt of the northern kingdom. (2 Chronicles 11:9) In the reign of Hezekiah it was one of the cities taken by Sennacherib.
This siege is considered by Layard and Hincks to be depicted on the slabs found by the former in one of the chambers of the palace at Kouyunjik. After the return from captivity, Lachish with its surrounding “fields” was reoccupied by the Jews.
Hitchcock's Bible Names (1869)
who walks, or exists, of himself
Schaff's Bible Dictionary
LA'CHISH (invincible), a city of the Amorites, lying south of Jerusalem, and toward the border of Simeon. Josh 10:3. It was one of the Canaanitish cities which was subdued by Joshua and included in Judah; fortified by Jeroboam. 2 Chr 11:9. King Amaziah was killed there. 2 Kgs 14:19. Lachish was besieged by Sennacherib and perhaps taken. 2 Kgs 18:13-14; Isa 36:1-2. The siege is considered by some to be depicted on the slabs found in one of the chambers of the palace at Kouyunjik. " Compare 2 Chr 32:1; 2 Kgs 19:8; Jer 34:7.
It was a place of great strength, favorably situated upon the side of a hill. From Lachish had been introduced into Jerusalem the idolatry of the ten tribes. Mic 1:13. Lachish was reoccupied after the Captivity. Neh 11:30. It has been identified Plan of Lachish. (From the monuments. ) with Um Lakis, but better with Tel el-Hesy.