{"version":"1.0","type":"video","title":"Socoh","description":"\"Socoh makes it’s first appearance in the Bible in a list of towns allocated to the tribe of Judah after the Children of Israel entered the land. It became an important border city guarding Judah from Phillistine intrusion.\n\nSocoh was the assembling ground for the Philistines as they prepared for war with the Israelites in the Valley of Elah. The outcome of this great battle was the death of their hero Goliath at the hands of the shepherd David. The Israelites routed the Philistines pushing them back across their borders. (1 Sam 17)\n\n(2 Chr 11) After the Kingdom of Israel split into northern and southern Kingdoms, King Rehoboam (Solomon’s son) fortified Socho making it one of his defensive cities full of provisions, commanders and supplies in the event of war.\n\n(2 Chr 28) During the time of King Ahaz, the Philistines would overrun the region taking many of the border towns including Socho. The reformer King Hezekiah would regain the region and conquer into Philistine lands even as he rebelled against the Assyrians who had essentially made Judah a vassal state. ( 2 Kings 18)\n\nThe Assyrians would retaliate. Only Jerusalem was spared and Socho remains in ruins until this day.\n\nAlthough clearly identified by archeologists, Socho has only undergone preliminary excavations. The walls that once stood sentry along the border between Israel and Philistia have lain untouched for millennia allowing a visitor to wonder at the lives and stories that played out here during Biblical times.\"","html":"","width":640,"height":360}