Tirzah

Tirzah was an ancient Canaanite royal city whose king Joshua defeated, and it later served as the capital of the northern kingdom of Israel. Jeroboam's household was living there when his son died, Baasha reigned over all Israel in Tirzah for twenty-four years, and Baasha's son Elah was murdered there by Zimri while drinking himself drunk. Omri reigned six years in Tirzah before buying the hill of Samaria and moving the capital there. Tirzah was evidently a beautiful place, for the Song of Solomon compares the beloved to it alongside Jerusalem. Its kings, however, were remembered mostly for bloodshed and idolatry, and the city faded from the story once Samaria rose, apart from Menahem, who went up from Tirzah to seize the throne.

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Details

Region: Canaan
Modern Location: Tell el-Far'ah (North), northeast of Nablus, West Bank

Strongest connections in Scripture

1 Kings 16 2× Joshua 12 1 Kings 14 1 Kings 15 Song of Solomon 6

Journey Paths

Omri's Journey

Samaria → Tirzah

Key Passages

The King of Tirzah

Joshua 12:24

Tirzah closes the list of thirty-one Canaanite kings defeated under Joshua.

T²⁴he king of Tirzah, one: all the kings thirty and one.

Jeroboam's Son Dies at Tirzah

1 Kings 14:17

Ahijah's word is fulfillled as Jeroboam's wife returns home to Tirzah.

A¹⁷nd Jeroboam’s wife arose, and departed, and came to Tirzah: and when she came to the threshold of the door, the child died;

Baasha Reigns in Tirzah

1 Kings 15:33

Tirzah becomes the seat of a new dynasty in the northern kingdom.

I³³n the third year of Asa king of Judah began Baasha the son of Ahijah to reign over all Israel in Tirzah, twenty and four years.

Elah Murdered in Tirzah

1 Kings 16:8-9

A drunken king is struck down by his own chariot commander.

I⁸n the twenty and sixth year of Asa king of Judah began Elah the son of Baasha to reign over Israel in Tirzah, two years.

⁹ And his servant Zimri, captain of half his chariots, conspired against him, as he was in Tirzah, drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza steward of his house in Tirzah.

Omri Moves the Capital

1 Kings 16:23-24

After six years in Tirzah, Omri buys the hill of Samaria and builds a new capital.

I²³n the thirty and first year of Asa king of Judah began Omri to reign over Israel, twelve years: six years reigned he in Tirzah.

²⁴ And he bought the hill Samaria of Shemer for two talents of silver, and built on the hill, and called the name of the city which he built, after the name of Shemer, owner of the hill, Samaria.