Impregnable, a royal Canaanitish city in the Shephelah, or maritime plain of Palestine (Joshua 10:3,5 ; 12:11 ). It was taken and destroyed by the Israelites (Joshua 10:31-33 ). It afterwards became, under Rehoboam, one of the strongest fortresses of Judah (2 Chronicles 10:9 ). It was assaulted and probably taken by Sennacherib (2 Kings 18:14,17 ; 19:8 ; Isaiah 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. The inscription has been deciphered as follows:, "Sennacherib, the mighty king, king of the country of Assyria, sitting on the throne of judgment before the city of Lachish: I gave permission for its slaughter." (See NINEVEH .) 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 Chronicles 4:32 ) to the chief of Lachish, in which the writer expresses great alarm at the approach of marauders from the Hebron hills. "They have entered the land," he says, "to lay waste...strong is he who has come down. He lays waste." 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).

Excavations at Lachish are still going on, and among other discoveries is that of an iron blast-furnace, with slag and ashes, which is supposed to have existed B.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. (See FURNACE .)

A royal Canaanite city which joined the confederacy against Gibeon for submitting to Israel, and was taken by Joshua (Joshua 12:11; Joshua 10:3; Joshua 10:5; Joshua 10:31-32) "on the second day," which shows its strength; the other cities were taken in one day (Joshua 10:35). Assigned to Judah, in the shephelah or "low hilly country" (Joshua 15:33; Joshua 15:39). Rehoboam fortified it (2 Chronicles 11:9). To Lachish Amaziah fled from the conspirators, and was slain there (2 Kings 14:19; 2 Chronicles 25:27). Sennacherib was at Lachish when Hezekiah begged peace. Thence he sent his first message to Hezekiah by Rabshakeh, and then having left Lachish to war against Libnah, from the latter sent again (2 Kings 18:14; 2 Kings 18:17; 2 Kings 19:8). The strength of Lachish as a fortress is implied in 2 Chronicles 32:9, "Sennacherib laid siege against Lachish and all his power with him."

It held out against Nebuchadnezzar (Jeremiah 34:7). Sennacherib's siege of Lachish is still to be seen at Koyunjik represented on the slabs of his palace walls as successful, with the inscription "Sennacherib, the mighty king of Assyria, sitting on the throne of judgment before the city of Lachish, I give permission for its slaughter." The Assyrian tents appear pitched within the walls, and the foreign worship going on. The town, as in Scripture, is depicted as on hilly ground, one part higher than the other. The background shows a hilly country covered with vines and fig trees; but immediately round the town are palms, indicating its nearness to the maritime plain where the palm best flourishes. His boasted success is doubtful from 2 Chronicles 32:1, "Sennacherib encamped against the fenced cities, and thought to win them for himself"; 2 Kings 19:8; Jeremiah 34:7.

Lachish was foremost in adopting some of the northern idolatry. Hence, Micah (Micah 1:13) warned the inhabitants of Lachish to flee on the swift beast (there's a play of like sounds between Lachish and rechesh ), Sennacherib being about to make it his head quarters, for "she is the beginning of the sin to the daughter of Zion, for the transgressions of Israel were found in thee." The Jews returning from Babylon re-occupied Lachish (Nehemiah 11:30). Now Um Lakis, on a low round swell, with a few columns and fragments; in the middle of the plain, on Sennacherib's road to Egypt, where he was marching, according to Robinson. Rather it answers to the great mound of Tel el Hesy ("hillock of the waterpit"), ten miles from Eleutheropolis (Beit Jibrin), and not far from Ajlan (Eglon). Hesy is a corruption of Lachish, the Hebrew caph) being changed into the guttural. Tel el Hesy commands the approach to the hills (Palestine Exploration Quarterly Statement, Jan. 1878, p. 19-20).

(lay' chihssh) Place name meaning “obstinate.” An important Old Testament city located in the Shephelah (“lowlands”) southwest of Jerusalem. It has usually been identified in modern times with the archaeological site called tell ed-Duweir. The same site has more recently come to be called tel Lachish. Lachish is also mentioned in ancient Egyptian, Assyrian and Babylonian records.

The earliest reference to Lachish is in the Amarna letters (about 1400 B.C). It was evidently one of the important Canaanite cities of the time. The Hebrew army under Joshua's command defeated the king of Lachish, killed him and conquered his city (Joshua 10:5 , Joshua 10:23 ,Joshua 10:23,10:32-33 ). Later, Lachish was apportioned to the Tribe of Judah (Joshua 15:39 ). The next Biblical reference to Lachish comes in 2 Chronicles 11:9 , from the reign of Rehoboam who “fortified the city.” Lachish was also the city of refuge for Amaziah who fled there from Jerusalem to escape a conspiracy against him (2 Kings 14:19 ; 2 Chronicles 25:27 ).

Lachish is perhaps most well known for the story of its siege and conquest in 701 B.C. at the hands of the Assyrian King Sennacherib (2 Kings 18:1 ; 2 Chronicles 32:1 ; Isaiah 36:1 ). Two later brief references appear (Jeremiah 34:7 ; Nehemiah 11:30 ).

The archaeological excavations at Lachish have been extensive and rewarding. They have shown occupation at Lachish from about 4000 B.C. to the time of its conquest by the Persian Empire (539-333 B.C.). The rich and varied finds represent almost all of the periods, but the chief interest for the student of the Bible centers on the periods beginning with the time of the Hebrew invasion of Canaan. Impressive archaeological evidence shows the city was destroyed during the period of the conquest related in the Book of Joshua, but the archaeological evidence does not indicate who the destroyers were. Some scholars date the Lachish destruction layer as late as 1150 B.C. on the basis of a cartouche of Rameses III of Egypt.

The biblical account of Sennacherib's conquest of Lachish in 701 B.C. is supported and amplified by Assyrian records of King Sennacherib's campaign (2 Kings 18:1 ; 2 Chronicles 32:1 ; Isaiah 36:1 ). This was graphically recorded in a large and elaborate bas relief on the walls of the royal palace in Nineveh. Presently housed in the British museum in London, these carvings show Assyrian soldiers attacking the walled city, the city inhabitants defending their city, soldiers killing some of the defenders, families with possessions being led away captive, and the king on his throne reviewing the spoils taken from the city. A replica of this relief may be found in the library of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville,

LACHISH . A town in the south country of Judah referred to several times in the Tell el-Amarna tablets. In the Biblical records it first appears as joining the coalition headed by the king of Jerusalem against the Gibeonites ( Joshua 10:3 ), and as being in consequence reduced by Joshua ( Joshua 10:31 ) in spite of the assistance given to it by the king of Gezer ( Joshua 10:33 ). It is enumerated among the cities of the tribe of Judah ( Joshua 15:39 ). Rehoboam fortified it ( 2 Chronicles 11:9 ). Hither Amaziah, king of Judah, fled from conspirators, and here he was murdered ( 2 Kings 14:19 ). In the reign of Hezekiah, Sennacherib took Lachish, and while he was quartered there Hezekiah sent messengers to him to make terms ( 2 Kings 18:13-17 ). Sennacherib’s Lachish campaign is commemorated by a sculpture from Nineveh, now in the British Museum. Lachish and Azekah were the last cities to stand against the king of Babylon ( Jeremiah 34:7 ). Lachish was one of the towns settled by the children of Judah after the Exile ( Nehemiah 11:30 ). Micah’s denunciation of Lachish as ‘the beginning of sin to the daughter of Zion’ ( Micah 1:13 ) doubtless refers to incidents of which we are quite ignorant.

Lachish was identified by Conder with Tell el-Hesy , an important mound in the Gaza district, which was partially excavated with success by Flinders Petrie and Bliss for the Palestine Exploration Fund (1890 1893). Another site in the neighbourhood, of Roman date, called Umm Lakis , probably represents a later dwelling of the representatives of the ancient Lachishites, and preserves the name of the city.

R. A. S. Macalister.

A city south of Judah, Joshua 10:23. The word signifies, she walks, from Jalac.

Who walks

An Amorite city in the lowlands of Judah. Its king was one of the four called upon by the king of Jerusalem to join him in attacking Gibeon because it had made peace with the Israelites. But the Amorites were smitten, and Lachish was taken by Joshua after a siege of two days. It was a fortified city in the route running from north to south. On the division of the kingdom it was garrisoned by Rehoboam. It was taken by Sennacherib, and among the slabs discovered at Nineveh is one representing the king sitting on his throne, with captives from Lachish kneeling before him, while his troops, passing in review, show the spoils they have taken. The inscription reads, "Sennacherib, king of multitudes, king of Assyria, sitteth upon a lofty throne, and the spoil of the city of Lachish passeth before him." This slab is now in the British Museum. Joshua 10:3-35 ; Joshua 12:11 ; Joshua 15:39 ; 2 Kings 14:19 ; 2 Kings 18:14,17 ; 2 Kings 19:8 ; 2 Chronicles 11:9 ; 2 Chronicles 25:27 ; 2 Chronicles 32:9 ; Nehemiah 11:30 ; Isaiah 36:2 ; Isaiah 37:8 ; Jeremiah 34:7 ; Micah 1:13 . Identified by some with Tell el Hesy, 31 33' N, 34 44' E .

At this mound 60 feet have been dug through and explored. The ruins of as many as eight cities have been discovered, which are judged by the marks on the pottery, etc., to extend back to about 1500 B.C. Nearer the surface have been found scarabs (beetles) and an inscription which makes it evident that at one time it was subject to Egypt. This is proved also by records on the Tell Amarna Tablets, alluded to under 'Egypt'.

a city of Palestine, Joshua 10:23 ; Joshua 15:39 . Sennacherib besieged Lachish, but did not make himself master of it. From thence it was that he sent Rabshakeh against Jerusalem, 2 Kings 18:17 ; 2 Kings 19:8 ; 2 Chronicles 32:9 .

Lachish (lâ'kish), invincible. A city of the Amorites, lying south of Jerusalem, and toward the border of Simeon. Joshua 10:1-43; Joshua 3:1-17. It was one of the Canaanitish cities which was subdued by Joshua and included in Judah; fortified by Jeroboam. 2 Chronicles 11:9. King Amaziah was killed there. 2 Kings 14:19. Lachish was besieged by Sennacherib and perhaps taken. 2 Kings 18:13-14; Isaiah 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. Lachish has lately (1892) been identified with Tel-el-Hesy on the Mediterranean Sea, where remarkable tablets, records, and letters of the king of Lachish have been found, written before the exodus.

A city in the southwest part of Judah, Joshua 10:3,5,31 ; fortified by Rehoboam, 2 Chronicles 11:9 , and strong enough to resist for a time the whole army of Sennacherib, 2 Kings 18:17 19:8 2 Chronicles 32:1,9,21 Micah 1:13 . It was here that king Amaziah was slain, 2 Kings 14:19 . For a wonderful confirmation of the truth of Scripture, see SENNACHERIB .

The important town of Lachish was located in the mountain pass that led from Hebron down to the Mediterranean coast. It was conquered by Israel in the time of Joshua (Joshua 10:3-5; Joshua 10:32) and later became an important military outpost for the defence of Jerusalem and other highland towns (2 Kings 18:13-17; 2 Chronicles 11:5; 2 Chronicles 11:9; Jeremiah 34:7; Micah 1:13; see PALESTINE). It was resettled after the Jews’ return from captivity, but never regained its previous importance (Nehemiah 11:25; Nehemiah 11:30).