Adullam is an ancient ruin, once numbered among the thirty-six cities of Canaan whose kings “Joshua and the children of Israel smote” (Joshua 12:7-24). After that, it fell as an inheritance to the tribe of Judah and was included in the northern division of the lowland (Shephelah) cities of the land of Judah (Joshua 15:35).

Adullam is mentioned several times in the Hebrew Bible, most notably in the story of David. When David was fleeing from King Saul, he took refuge in the Cave of Adullam, which is located near the city. The cave was a natural fortress, and it provided David with a safe place to hide.

Adullam also became a gathering place for David’s followers. After David killed Goliath, many people who were oppressed by Saul came to Adullam to join David. These people included “everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was bitter in soul” (1 Samuel 22:2).

David eventually became king of Israel, but he never forgot Adullam. He returned to the city several times, and he even built a palace there. Adullam continued to be an important city in the time of the kings of Judah, and it was mentioned in the books of Chronicles and Nehemiah.

The exact location of Adullam is not known for certain, but it is thought to be located near the modern-day village of Khirbet ‘Adeila, which is about 13 kilometers west of Bethlehem. The site has been excavated by a number of archaeologists, but no clear evidence of the city of Adullam has been found. However, the site does contain a number of caves, which may have been used by David and his followers.