One of the royal cities of the Canaanites taken by Joshua ([Josh. 10:29-32](/josh#Josh.10.29); [12:15](/josh#Josh.12.15)). It became one of the Levitical towns in the tribe of Judah (21:13), and was strongly fortified. Sennacherib laid siege to it ([2 Kings 19:8](/2kgs#2Kgs.19.8); [Isa. 37:8](/isa#Isa.37.8)). It was the native place of Hamutal, the queen of Josiah ([2 Kings 23:31](/2kgs#2Kgs.23.31)). It stood near Lachish, and has been identified with the modern Arak el-Menshiyeh.