Lachish was a town located in the Shephelah, or maritime plain of Philistia (Joshua 10:3, 5; 12:11). This town was first mentioned in the Amarna letters as Lakisha (EA 287, 288, 328, 329, 335). The Israelites captured and destroyed Lachish for joining the league against the Gibeonites (Josh. 10:31-33), but the territory was later assigned to the tribe of Judah (15:39).