Bible Locations

Soco is another spelling of Socoh, used in 2 Chronicles. King Rehoboam of Judah fortified Soco as one of his fifteen defensive cities, with Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa, Beth-zur and Adullam (2 Chronicles 11:7). Later, in the reign of Ahaz, the Philistines captured "Soco, Timnah and Gimzo, with their surrounding villages" (2 Chronicles 28:18), part of Judah's losses when Ahaz turned to idolatry. This is the Socoh in the Shephelah, above the Valley of Elah, where the Philistines camped before David fought Goliath. It's identified with Khirbet Abbad, or Khirbet Shuweikeh, about 15 miles southwest of Jerusalem. Jar handles stamped "lmlk" (belonging to the king) and "Socoh" were found in Judah, showing it was one of four royal administrative centers in Hezekiah's time, along with Hebron, Ziph and Mamshat.