defense; bough
Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary
("the hill or eminence".) (1Sa_19:22): Between Saul's dwelling place, Gibeah, and Samuel's, Ramah. It had "the great well" or cistern (bor). Now, according to some, Bir Neballa ("the well of Neballa"), containing a large pit.
Fausset's Bible Dictionary
By Andrew Robert Fausset, co-Author of Jamieson, Fausset and Brown's 1888.
Se'chu. (the watch-tower). A place mentioned once only in 1Sa_19:22 apparently as lying on the route between Saul's residence, Gibeah, and Ramah, (Ramathaim-zophim), that of Samuel. It was notorious for "the great well" (or rather, cistern) which it contained. Assuming that Saul started from Gibeah, (Tuleil el-Ful), and that Neby Samwil is Ramah, then Bir Nebolla, (the well of Neballa), just south of Beeroth, alleged by modern traveller to contain a large pit, would be in a suitable position for the great well of Sechu.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
By Dr. William Smith.Published in 1863
sē?kū (שׂכוּ, sēkhū). See SECU.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
PRINTER 1915.
(Heb. with the art. has-Seku', .חַשְּׂכוּ, the watch-tower, implying that the place was on or near an elevation; Sept. Σεχί v. r. Σεφεί), a region in Ramah, containing a famous well (or rather cistern, בּוֹר), which Saul passed while in pursuit of David (1Sa_19:22). "Assuming that Saul started from Gibeah (Tuleil el-Ful), and that Neby Samwil is Ramah [?], then Bir Neballa (the well of Neballa), alleged by a modern traveller (Schwarz, Palest. p. 127) to contain a large pit, would be in a suitable position for the great well of Sechu. Schwarz himself (p. 157) would identify it with Askar, on the south-east end of Mount Eba], and the well with Jacob's Well in the plain below; and Van de Velde (S. and P. ii, 53 sq.) hesitatingly places it at Shuk, in the mountains of Judah north-east of Hebron; but this they are forced into by their respective theories as to the position of Ramathaim-Zophim" (Smith). Sechu is perhaps represented by the present Khuraib er-Ram, which still contains a cistern (Robinson, Later Res. p. 287), and lies near er-Ram (Ramah) directly on the road from Tuleil el-Ful (Gibcah of Saul).
CYCLOPEDIA OF BIBLICAL, THEOLOGICAL AND ECCLESIASTICAL
press 1895.