Zorah

Samson’s story begins in a small town. “A certain man of Zorah,” named Manoah, has a wife who is barren, and in time she bears a son and calls him Samson. The child grows, and the LORD blesses him. Then the writer notes where it first stirs: “the Spirit of the LORD began to move him at times in the camp of Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol.” Joshua 15 lists the town among those given to Judah, and Nehemiah mentions a town called Zareah, which may be the same place. Judges 13 is the place to start.

5 verses

Joshua

Joshua 15:33

And in the valley, Eshtaol, and Zoreah, and Ashnah,

Judges

Judges 13:2

And there was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren, and bare not.

Judges 13:24

And the woman bare a son, and called his name Samson: and the child grew, and the LORD blessed him.

Judges 13:25

And the Spirit of the LORD began to move him at times in the camp of Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol.

Nehemiah

Nehemiah 11:29

And at Enrimmon, and at Zareah, and at Jarmuth,

From Easton's Bible Dictionary

Matthew George Easton, 1897

Place of wasps, a town in the low country of Judah, afterwards given to Dan (Josh. 19:41; Judg. 18:2), probably the same as Zoreah (Josh. 15:33). This was Samson’s birthplace (Judg. 13:2, 25), and near it he found a grave (16:31). It was situated on the crest of a hill overlooking the valley of Sorek, and was fortified by Rehoboam (2 Chr. 11:10). It has been identified with Sur’ah, in the Wady Surar, 8 miles west of Jerusalem. It is noticed on monuments in the fifteenth century B.C. as attacked by the Abiri or Hebrews.

From Smith's Bible Dictionary

William Smith, 1884

(hornet), a town in the allotment of the tribe of Dan, (Joshua 19:41) It is previously mentioned ch. (Joshua 15:33) in the catalogue of Judah, among the places in the district of the Shefelah (Authorized Version "Zoreah"), It was the residence of Manoah and the native place of Samson. It is mentioned among the places fortified by Rehoboam. (2 Chronicles 11:10) It is perhaps identical with the modern village of Sur’ah .