ZANOAH zə nō’ ə (זָנֹ֨וחַ׃֙). 1. A town in the Shephelah (q.v.) region allotted by Joshua to Judah (Josh 15:34). After the Exile it was one of the centers where returning exiles settled (Neh 11:30). When Nehemiah rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem, the men of Zanoah under the leadership of one Hanun were responsible for the Valley Gate (Neh 3:13). The towns of Lachish (q.v.) and Azekah (q.v.) were nearby, and so the site should be identified with one of the many mounds in the same general area, e.g. Khirbet Zanu’ about three m. S-SE of Bethshemesh which preserves the name. It lies on a hill which is cut off to the E, W and N by valleys. Pottery remains point to occupation from the days of the kings through to Arab. times. Only excavation would indicate earlier occupation.

2. A town in the hill country of Judah (Josh 15:55-57; cf. 1 Chron 4:18), possibly Khirbet Zanuta eleven m. SW of Hebron, or more likely in Khirbet Beit Amra in the Wadi Abu Zenah about a mile NW of Yatta [Juttah] (Josh 15:55). Surface pottery on both sites suggests late occupation, although there may well be earlier occupation.

Bibliography F. M. Abel, Géographie de la Palestine (1938), 489; W. F. Albright, “Topographical Researches in Judaea,” BASOR, 18 (1925), 10, 11.