A town in the territory of Gad.
About Succoth (of Gad)
A town in the Jordan Valley listed along with other towns as belonging to the tribe of Gad (Joshua 13:27). Succoth is located in a fertile valley called Ghaur Abu 'Udeidah, known in the Bible as the valley of Succoth (Psalms 60:6; 108:7). This valley forms the central portion of the Jordan Valley on the eastern side, between the Wadi Rejeb and the Jabbok River.
The place first appears in the story of Jacob's meeting with Esau, which happened just south of Penuel. After meeting Esau, Jacob went to Succoth and built shelters for his cattle. This is given as the explanation for the name of the settlement (Succoth means “shelters,” Genesis 33:17).
Later, the people of Succoth refused to give food to Gideon and his men when they were chasing the Midianites (Judges 8:5–9). When Gideon returned, he made sure to punish the elders of Succoth (Judges 8:13–17). The type of social organization described in this passage suggests that the population may not have been Israelite at the time of Gideon's visit.
Succoth is also mentioned in connection with Solomon's building projects. The metal casting for important fixtures and tools of the temple was done in the area between Succoth and Zarethan (1 Kings 7:46; 2 Chronicles 4:17). It is possible that Succoth was destroyed by Shishak of Egypt during the time Israel was ruled by kings.
Some scholars suggest that the place-name appears in two other passages: as the gathering place for David's forces before the battle with Ammon, when the ark and the army were "living in shelters (sukkoth)" (2 Samuel 11:11). Second, the gathering place for Ben-hadad's troops in his war against Samaria (1 Kings 20:12, 16).
Key References
and in the valley, Beth-haram, Beth-nimrah, Succoth, and Zaphon, with the rest of the kingdom of Sihon king of Heshbon (the territory on the east side of the Jordan up to the edge of the Sea of Chinnereth).
but Jacob went on to Succoth, where he built a house for himself and shelters for his livestock; that is why the place was called Succoth.
All Scripture References (12)
Genesis (1)
but Jacob went on to Succoth, where he built a house for himself and shelters for his livestock; that is why the place was called Succoth.
Joshua (1)
and in the valley, Beth-haram, Beth-nimrah, Succoth, and Zaphon, with the rest of the kingdom of Sihon king of Heshbon (the territory on the east side of the Jordan up to the edge of the Sea of Chinnereth).
Judges (6)
So Gideon said to the men of Succoth, “Please give my troops some bread, for they are exhausted, and I am still pursuing Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian.”
But the leaders of Succoth asked, “Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna already in your possession, that we should give bread to your army?”
From there he went up to Penuel and asked the same from them, but the men of Penuel gave the same response as the men of Succoth.
There he captured a young man of Succoth and interrogated him. The young man wrote down for him the names of the seventy-seven leaders and elders of Succoth.
And Gideon went to the men of Succoth and said, “Here are Zebah and Zalmunna, about whom you taunted me, saying, ‘Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna already in your possession, that we should give bread to your weary men?’”
Then he took the elders of the city, and using the thorns and briers of the wilderness, he disciplined the men of Succoth.
1 Kings (1)
The king had them cast in clay molds in the plain of the Jordan between Succoth and Zarethan.
2 Chronicles (1)
The king had them cast in clay molds in the plain of the Jordan between Succoth and Zeredah.
Psalms (2)
Moab is My washbasin; upon Edom I toss My sandal; over Philistia I shout in triumph.”
Gilead is Mine, and Manasseh is Mine; Ephraim is My helmet, Judah is My scepter.