Achshaph

Achshaph is a city of northern Canaan that appears three times in Joshua: as a member of the northern coalition against Israel, in the list of conquered kings, and on the territorial border of Asher.

A King in the Northern Coalition

Achshaph first appears as one of the city-kingdoms summoned by Jabin of Hazor to resist Joshua: "And it came to pass, when Jabin king of Hazor heard of it, that he sent to Jobab king of Maron, and to the king of Shimeon, and to the king of Achshaph" (Jos 11:1). The summons gathers the northern kings into the alliance that Joshua then defeats.

In the List of Defeated Kings

The catalogue of kings struck by Joshua preserves Achshaph alongside its near neighbor: "the king of Shimeon-meron, one; the king of Achshaph, one" (Jos 12:20). Each is counted singly, and the city joins the long ledger of conquered northern monarchies.

On the Border of Asher

The territorial allotment to Asher includes Achshaph among its border-towns: "And their border was Helkath, and Hali, and Beten, and Achshaph" (Jos 19:25). The city, once a head of resistance, becomes a marker on the inheritance map of an Israelite tribe.