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Segub

SEGUB (sē'gŭb, Heb. seghûv)

The younger son of Hiel. He died when his father set up the gates of Jericho, which he was then building (1Kgs.16.34). Thus the curse pronounced by Joshua (Josh.6.26) was fulfilled. Some regard Segub’s death as an example of infant sacrifice, but this is not clear from the account.Son of Hezron by a daughter of Makir (1Chr.2.21-1Chr.2.22).



SEGUB sē’ gub (שְׂגִיב, H8439, Qere שְׂג֤וּב ; LXX Σεγου̂β, exalted). 1. The youngest son of Hiel of Bethel who rebuilt Jericho during Ahab’s reign (1 Kings 16:34). The Targums say Hiel offered Segub and his brother Abiram as foundation sacrifices, a common rite among the pagans of the area (cf. John Gray, I and II Kings, p. 334). De Vaux (AIs, 441f.) says that if this incident is foundation sacrifice, it was due to Phoen. influence. Such sacrifices are attested at Gezer where three skeletons were found under a foundation from c. 1800 b.c. (cf. BA, XXX [1967], p. 56). The writer of Kings considered the death of Hiel’s sons as a fulfillment of Joshua’s curse upon anyone who tried to rebuild Jericho (Josh 6:26).

2. Son of Hebron, grandson of Machir, great-grandson of Judah (1 Chron 2:21, 22), LXX Σερου̂χ, Lucian’s Gr., Σεγου̂β.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915)


(1) The youngest son of Hiel, the rebuilder of Jericho (1Ki 16:34). The death of Segub is probably connected with the primitive custom of laying foundations with blood, as, indeed, skulls were found built in with the brickwork when the tower of Bel at Nippur was excavated. See Gezer. If the death of the two sons was based on the custom just mentioned, the circumstance was deliberately obscured in the present account. The death of Segub may have been due to an accident in the setting up of the gates. In any event, tradition finally yoked the death of Hiel’s oldest and youngest sons with a curse said to have been pronounced by Joshua on the man that should venture to rebuild Jericho (Jos 6:26).

(2) Son of Hezron and father of Jair (1Ch 2:21).

Horace J. Wolf