One of the stations of the Israelites in the wilderness (Numbers 33:20,21).
One of the royal cities of the Canaanites taken by Joshua (Joshua 10:29-32; 12:15). It became one of the Levitical towns in the tribe of Judah (Joshua 21:13), and was strongly fortified. Sennacherib laid siege to it (2 Kings 19:8; Isaiah 37:8). It was the native place of Hamutal, the queen of Josiah (2 Kings 23:31). It stood near Lachish, and has been identified with the modern Arak el-Menshiyeh.
