Eshtemoa

Eshtemoa is a name that belongs to both a town and a man. In Joshua 21 it sits in a list of cities, set down beside Jattir, each “with her suburbs.” In 1 Chronicles 4 the name turns up in family lines: Ishbah is “the father of Eshtemoa,” and another verse speaks of “Eshtemoa the Maachathite.” The Bible says nothing more about either one. Entries like these can seem dry, yet they show how carefully places and families were remembered. Look at Joshua 21:14 and 1 Chronicles 4:17 side by side.

3 verses

Joshua

Joshua 21:14

And Jattir with her suburbs, and Eshtemoa with her suburbs,

1 Chronicles

1 Chronicles 4:17

And the sons of Ezra were, Jether, and Mered, and Epher, and Jalon: and she bare Miriam, and Shammai, and Ishbah the father of Eshtemoa.

1 Chronicles 4:19

And the sons of his wife Hodiah the sister of Naham, the father of Keilah the Garmite, and Eshtemoa the Maachathite.

From Easton's Bible Dictionary

Matthew George Easton, 1897

Obedience, a town in the mountains of Judah (Josh. 21:14; 1 Chr. 6:57), which was allotted, with the land round it, to the priests. It was frequented by David and his followers during their wanderings; and he sent presents of the spoil of the Amalekites to his friends there (1 Sam. 30:28). It is identified with es-Semu’a, a village about 3 1/2 miles east of Socoh, and 7 or 8 miles south of Hebron, around which there are ancient remains of the ruined city. It is the centre of the “south country” or Negeb. It is also called “Eshtemoh” (Josh. 15:50).

From Smith's Bible Dictionary

William Smith, 1884

and in shorter form Eshtemoh (obedience), a town of Judah in the mountains, (Joshua 15:50) allotted to the priest. (Joshua 21:14; 1 Chronicles 6:57) It was one of the places frequented by David and his followers during the long period of their wanderings. (1 Samuel 30:28) comp. 1Sam 30:31 Its site is at Semu’a , a village seven miles south of Hebron.