Bible Dictionary
Shaaraim
Shaaraim was the name of towns in Judah and Simeon. One was associated with the Philistines’ flight after David’s victory, while the other was in the southern territory of Simeon.
Definition
Shaaraim, meaning “two gates,” was the name of two towns. One lay in the lowland of Judah; the other belonged to Simeon in southwestern Palestine. The Judahite town is also rendered Sharaim in one version.
Biblical Usage
The Judahite Shaaraim is mentioned near Socoh and Azekah, and the Philistines passed a place called Shaaraim while fleeing after their defeat. The Simeonite town is listed among the towns of Simeon and is distinguished from the Judahite site.
Historical Background
The Judahite site has been proposed for Tell Zakariya or Khirbet Sa‘ireh, but both identifications are uncertain. The Simeonite town has been compared with Sharuhen, Shilhim, and a fortress on the road from Gaza to Egypt; proposed identifications remain debated.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Two gates. (1.) A city in the plain of Judah (1 Sam. 17:52); called also Sharaim (Josh. 15:36). (2.) A town in Simeon (1 Chr. 4:31).
Smith's Bible Dictionary
(two gates), a city in the territory allotted to Judah, (Joshua 15:36) in Authorized Version incorrectly Sharaim. (1 Samuel 17:52) Shaaraim one of the towns of Simeon, (1 Chronicles 4:31) must be a different place.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>sha-a-ra'-im (sha`arayim, "two gates"; Sakareim; the King James Version Sharaim):</p><p>(1) A city in the Shephelah or "lowland" of Judah mentioned (Jos 15:36) in close association with Socoh and Azekah; the vanquished army of the Philistines passed a Shaaraim in their flight from Socoh toward Gath and Ekron (1Sa 17:52). It is possible that in this latter reference the "two gates" may refer--as Septuagint implies--to the two Philistine strongholds themselves. Shaaraim has been identified with Tell Zakariya (see however AZEKAH) and with Kh. Sa`ireh (PEF, III, 124, Sh XVII), an old site West of Beit `Atab. Both proposals are hazardous.</p><p>(2) One of the towns of Simeon (1Ch 4:31), called (Jos 19:6) "Sharuhen" and, as one of the uttermost cities of Judah, called (Jos 15:32) "Shilhim." This town was in Southwestern Palestine and is very probably identical with the fortress Sharhana, a place of some importance on the road from Gaza to Egypt. Aahmes (XVIIIth Dynasty) besieged and captured this city in the 5th year of his reign in his pursuit of the flying Hyksos (Petrie, Hist, II, 22, 35), and a century later Tahutmes III, in the 23rd year of his reign, took the city of Sharuhen on his way to the siege and capture of Megiddo (Petrie, Hist, II, 104). On philological grounds Tell esh-Sheri`ah, 12 miles Northwest of Beersheba, large ruin, has been proposed, but it does not suit at all the Egyptian data (PEF, III, 399, Sh XXIV).</p><p>E. W. G. Masterman</p>