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zō´ra (צרעה, cor‛aÌ„h; ΣαÏααÌ, Saraa): A city on the border of Dan, between Eshtaol and Ir-shemesh (); the birthplace of Samson (, ); near here too he was buried (); from here some Danites went to spy out the land (, ). In it is, with Eshtaol, allotted to Judah, and after the captivity it was reinhabited by the “children of Judah†(, the King James Version “Zareahâ€). It was one of the cities fortified by Rehoboam (). It is probable that it is mentioned under the name Tsarkha along with Aialuna (Aijalon; ) in the Tell el-Amarna Letters (No. 265, Petrie) as attacked by the Khabiri.
It is the modern Ṣur‛a, near the summit of a lofty hill on the north side of the Wâdy es-Ṣurār (Vale of Sorek). The summit itself is occupied by the Mukam Nebi Samit, overhung by a lofty palm, and there are many remains of ancient tombs, cisterns, wine presses, etc., around. From here Eshû‛a (Eshtaol), ‛Ain Shems (Beth-shemesh) and Tibnah (Timnah) are all visible. See PEF, III, 158, Sh XVII.