A
B
C
D
E
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
Y
Z
|
Tabor
Tamar
Tarshish
Tebah
Tekoa
Terah
Thahash
Thummim
Tigris
Tiras
Togarmah
Torah
Tubal Cain
Tyre
| | |
Tekoa 
Tekoa is the name of a city in south Judah, named fairly late in the narrative, and probably most famous for being the home of the prophet Amos.
In 1 Chr 2:24 Tekoa is incorporated in the genealogy of Judah as 'fathered' by Asshur (who was the son of the already deceased Hezron, who was the son of Perez, who was the son of Judah with Tamar). But as Gilead (verse 21) is the name of a much mentioned region, we may conclude that Tekoa is really a town and Asshur, taking after his grandfather Machir, a ruler. In 1 Chr 4:5-7 we read about the sons of the two wives of Asshur; Tekoa is not mentioned.
The name Tekoa is identical to the word (taqoa 2541b), trumpet, but both Fuerst and BDB deem a connection "dubious". The prophetJeremiah, however, feels free to play with it: "...now blow a trumpet in Tekoa...!" (6:1).
The word is quite an interesting one. It is derived of the verb  (taqa 2541), the meaning of which is divided into three by the various sources:
1) thrust (a weapon into someone - Jud 3:21), drive (locusts into the sea - Ex 10:19);
2) blow (a horn or trumpet - Josh 6:4);
3) clap (hands - Ps 47:1 in joy, or in a pledge - Job 17:3).
The common, underlying idea of this verb is obvious, but since no such a word exists in English we must describe a true meaning (and in translations sadly lose it):
The verb (taqa 2541) conveys a sudden burst; a force briefly applied. This burst evokes a union of some kind: a sword stabbed into a person; locusts driven to the sea; people aroused by a trumpet blast; hands brought together. Hence the verb is also used in the sense of pitching a tent (hammering the pegs into the ground - Gen 31:25) and making a pledge to become someone's endorser (which was done by striking hands together with someone - Job 17:3b literally reads "who is he that my hand will strike?").
In the latter usage the figurative is probably dominant: one who pledges another's safety is bound to him (compare Samson's hair 'hammered' to the ground; Samson tied up - Jud 16:14) and maybe even so much inconvenienced that the pledger feels 'stabbed' or thrust into (compare Prov 6:1, 11:15).
The name Tekoa means Trumpet, the instrument that unites people at a sudden impulse.
• • •
|
