What is…
Zereda

also known as: Zererah, Zeredah, Zeredath, Zeredatha, Zererath, Zarethan

Meaning: cooling, or ambush

This is a city in the hill-country of the Tribe of Ephraim on the north of Mount Ephraim.

It is first mentioned in the book of Judges in the account of Gideon’s victory.

When they blew 300 trumpets, the Lord set the sword of one against another even throughout the whole army; and the army fled as far as Beth-shittah toward Zererah, as far as the edge of Abel-meholah, by Tabbath. —Judges 7:22

It is the birthplace of evil King Jeroboam I who ruled the 10 tribes of the Kingdom of Israel. It is the home of his father Nebat (1 Kings 11:26).

It is probably the same as Zaretan (Joshua 3:16), Zererath (Judges 7:22), Zarethan (Zartanah) (1 Kings 4:12), or Zeredathah.