303. Achlab
Lexical Summary
Achlab: Achlab

Original Word: אַחְלָב
Part of Speech: Proper Name Location
Transliteration: Achlab
Pronunciation: akh-lawb'
Phonetic Spelling: (akh-lawb')
KJV: Ahlab
NASB: Ahlab
Word Origin: [from the same root as H2459 (חֶלֶב חֵלֶב - fat)]

1. fatness (i.e. fertile)
2. Achlab, a place in Israel

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Ahlab

From the same root as cheleb; fatness (i.e. Fertile); Achlab, a place in Palestine -- Ahlab.

see HEBREW cheleb

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from the same as cheleb
Definition
a city assigned to Asher
NASB Translation
Ahlab (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
אַחְלָב proper name, of a location town assigned to Asher Judges 1:31, site unknown, ᵐ5 Δαλαφ (= Ααλαφ (WMMAsien u. Europa 194 thinks corrupt for מחלב, Assyrian Ma—alliba (which SchrCOT Judges 1:37 DlPa 283 compare with אחלב and חֶלְבָּה); he reads proper name, of a location מחלב for מֵחֶבֶל Joshua 19:29, ᵐ5 Καὶ ἀπὸ Λεβ = וּמֵחֹלֶב; this would be on coast, north of Achzib).

I. חלד (√ of following; Arabic abide, continue, often in Qoran of righteous in Paradise).

Topical Lexicon
Biblical Occurrence

Judges 1:31 records that after Israel’s entry into Canaan, “Asher failed to drive out the inhabitants of Acco, or of Sidon, or of Ahlab, or of Achzib, or of Helbah, or of Aphik, or of Rehob” (Berean Standard Bible). This single notice places Ahlab among seven Phoenician-leaning towns that remained under Canaanite control despite the territorial allotment to the tribe of Asher.

Geographical Setting

Ahlab lay in the coastal plain north of Acco (modern Acre) and south of Sidon, an area renowned for fertile soils and maritime trade. The name’s traditional sense of “fertile” or “fatness” suits a region watered by Mediterranean breezes and marked by productive agriculture. Scholars commonly associate Ahlab with the site of Hirbet al-Mansiyah or nearby el-Musheirife within the western hills of Upper Galilee, though certainty remains elusive.

Historical Context

1. Era of the Judges: The reference in Judges 1 situates Ahlab during the early settlement period (ca. 14th–13th centuries BC). At that time, the Israelites possessed the covenant promise of the land yet faced entrenched Canaanite communities reinforced by Sidonian commerce and culture.
2. Tribal Boundaries: Joshua 19:24-31 details Asher’s inheritance, stretching along the seacoast and into the hill country. Although Ahlab is not explicitly listed there, its presence in Judges 1:31 indicates it belonged within that border, underscoring how allotment did not always equal occupation.
3. Phoenician Influence: The larger Sidon-Acco corridor was part of the flourishing Phoenician network. By leaving Ahlab intact, Asher exposed itself to foreign religious practices that later plagued Israel (Judges 3:5-7).

Tribal Inheritance and Covenant Themes

Ahlab symbolizes the tension between divine promise and human obedience:
• Promise—The land was divinely granted to Israel (Genesis 15:18; Joshua 21:43-45).
• Responsibility—Israel was charged to dispossess idolatrous nations (Deuteronomy 7:1-6).
• Failure—Asher’s inability to expel the inhabitants of Ahlab highlights partial obedience that invited future compromise. The pattern echoes throughout Judges, culminating in repeated cycles of oppression and deliverance.

Lessons for Faith and Ministry

1. Incomplete Obedience Breeds Compromise: Ahlab reminds believers that failure to address pockets of sin or cultural pressure can erode holiness over time.
2. Spiritual Vigilance in Prosperous Places: The town’s “fertile” character parallels situations where material blessing can dull spiritual resolve (Deuteronomy 8:10-14).
3. Faithful Stewardship of Inheritance: Just as Asher neglected part of its territory, churches and families must guard every aspect of their God-given heritage—doctrine, moral standards, and mission.
4. Hope of Redemption: Despite Asher’s lapse, God raised judges and ultimately provided the perfect Deliverer. Even when believers falter, divine grace invites renewed commitment (Isaiah 1:18; 1 John 1:9).

Archaeological and Extra-Biblical Insights

No definitive inscription of Ahlab has surfaced, yet surveys in Western Galilee reveal continuous Bronze-to-Iron Age occupation compatible with Phoenician material culture. Pottery forms and maritime trade goods support the biblical portrayal of a Canaanite populace resilient against Israelite settlement.

Summary

Ahlab stands as a small but telling witness to Israel’s early struggles to take hold of the Promised Land. Located in fertile, Phoenician-influenced territory, its lone appearance in Judges underscores the cost of partial obedience and the need for steadfast faith in every sphere entrusted by God.

Forms and Transliterations
אַחְלָ֤ב אחלב ’aḥ·lāḇ ’aḥlāḇ achLav
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Judges 1:31
HEB: צִיד֑וֹן וְאֶת־ אַחְלָ֤ב וְאֶת־ אַכְזִיב֙
NAS: of Sidon, or of Ahlab, or of Achzib,
KJV: of Zidon, nor of Ahlab, nor of Achzib,
INT: the inhabitants of Sidon of Ahlab of Achzib of Helbah

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 303
1 Occurrence


’aḥ·lāḇ — 1 Occ.

302
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