Adullam

Adullam, a city in Judah, known for its cave where David hid.

Adullam was a Canaanite city that was conquered by Joshua during the Israelite conquest of Canaan (Joshua 12:15). It was later allotted to the tribe of Judah and listed among the cities in the Shephelah (lowlands) region (Joshua 15:35). During the time of King Saul, David fled from Saul and sought refuge in the cave of Adullam, where he was joined by about 400 men who were in distress, debt, or discontent (1Sa.22.1-2).

Later, during the reign of King David, three of his mighty men broke through the Philistine lines to bring him water from the well in Bethlehem, passing by the cave of Adullam (2Sa.23.13-17; 1Ch.11.15-19). King Rehoboam, son of Solomon, fortified Adullam as part of his defensive strategy (2Ch.11.7). After the Babylonian exile, Adullam was among the towns resettled by the people of Judah (Nehemiah 11:30).

The prophet Micah used Adullam as a symbol of the degradation and shame that would come upon the nobles of Israel because of their sins (Micah 1:15). In the story of Judah and Tamar, Judah was associated with the town of Adullam, where his friend Hirah lived (Genesis 38:1,12,20). Adullam's location is believed to be at Tel esh-Sheikh Madhkur, about 16 miles (26 km) southwest of Jerusalem.

One of the royal cities of the Canaanites, now ‘Aid-el-ma (Josh. 12:15; 15:35). It stood on the old Roman road in the valley of Elah (q.v.), which was the scene of David’s memorable victory over Goliath (1 Sam. 17:2), and not far from Gath. It was one of the towns which Rehoboam fortified against Egypt (2 Chr. 11:7). It was called “the glory of Israel” (Micah 1:15).

The Cave of Adullam has been discovered about 2 miles south of the scene of David’s triumph, and about 13 miles west from Bethlehem. At this place is a hill some 500 feet high pierced with numerous caverns, in one of which David gathered together “every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented” (1 Sam. 22:2). Some of these caverns are large enough to hold 200 or 300 men. According to tradition this cave was at Wady Khureitun, between Bethlehem and the Dead Sea, but this view cannot be well maintained.