A village of the tribe of Simeon ([1 Chr. 4:32](/1chr#1Chr.4.32)). Into some cleft (“top,” A.V.,; R.V., “cleft”) of a rock here Samson retired after his slaughter of the Philistines ([Judg. 15:8](/judg#Judg.15.8), [11](/judg#Judg.15.11)). It was a natural stronghold. It has been identified with Beit ’Atab, west of Bethlehem, near Zorah and Eshtaol. On the crest of a rocky knoll, under the village, is a long tunnel, which may be the “cleft” in which Samson hid.