Azekah - The Hometown of Micah the Moreshtite

This article deals with the oft-debated identification of Moresheth Gath, mentioned in the book of Micah as the prophet's hometown. Based on comprehensive analysis of texts from the early Christian period, the Amarna archive and the book of Micah, the authors claim for the first time that Moresheth Gath is to be identified with Azekah, the economically and strategically important site in the western Shephelah. »Moresheth Gath« was the old name of the site before becoming part of Judah at the end of the 9th century BCE, when the Judahite rulers renamed it »Azekah«.