Places in the Bible Today:

Shaaraim 1

Data

Translated NamesShaaraim, Sharaim
Typesettlement
Notesin Judah
Geo Data KML (for Google Earth)
GeoJSON (for GIS applications)

3 Possible Identifications

  1. Khirbet es Sira (modern): 45% confidence
    1. satellite view of the region around Khirbet es SiraKhirbet es Sira

  2. another name for Shaaraim 2 (ancient): less than 10% confidence. It may be:
    1. artifact from Tall al AjjulTall al Ajjul

    2. panorama of Tel SharuhenTel Sharuhen

    3. panorama of Tel HarorTel Haror

    4. panorama of Tel HalifTel Halif

  3. Khirbet Qeiyafa (modern): less than 10% confidence
    1. ruins at Khirbet QeiyafaKhirbet Qeiyafa

Verses (2)

Josh-Ruth (1)
Josh 15:36
1Sam-Esth (1)
1Sam 17:52

Linked Data Identifiers

SourceIdentifier
Logos FactbookShaaraim
OpenBible.info (2007)Shaaraim 1
OpenBible.infoa28da66 (Shaaraim 1)
TIPNRShaaraim@Jos.15.36
UBS Names Databaseot ID_2956
WikidataQ7459954

Sources

  1. Baker Illustrated Bible Dictionary (2013): Shaaraim
  2. Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000): Shaaraim
  3. Expositor’s Bible Commentary (1984): 1Sam 17:51b-54
  4. Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (2003)
  5. IVP Old Testament Bible Background Commentary (2000): 1Sam 17:52
  6. McKinny, Historical Geography of the Administrative Division of Judah (2014): pages 182, 183
  7. Monson, Regions on the Run (2009): map 7
  8. New Interpreter’s Bible Dictionary (2009)
  9. Reader’s Digest Atlas of the Bible (1981): Shaaraim
  10. Zondervan Atlas of the Bible (2010)
  11. Zondervan Encyclopedia of the Bible (2010)
  12. Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary (2009): 1Sam 17:52

Confidence Trends over Time

This chart indicates how confidence in the identifications is changing over time. Each dot (connected by a dotted line) reflects the confidence of an identification over the preceding ten years (e.g., the 2009 dot reflects scholarship from 2000 to 2009), and the corresponding solid line reflects a best-fit line for the identification. Confidences that cluster near or below 0% indicate low confidence. Because of the small dataset, it's best to use this chart for general trends; if one identification is trending much higher than the others (in this case, Khirbet es Sira), then you can probably have higher confidence in the identification. This chart only reflects the sources I consulted (listed above), not an exhaustive review of the literature.

Places with Similar Names

Thumbnail Image Credits

Contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data 2019, Hanay, The devious diesel, Aaadir, Danny Gershoni, Yaels

About

This page attempts to identify all the possible locations where this biblical place could be. The confidence levels add up to less than 100%, indicating that the modern location is uncertain. It's best to think about the confidences in relative rather than absolute terms. Often they reflect different schools of thought, each confident in their identifications.