Shaaraim was a town in the Shephelah of Judah (Josh. 15:36) and a place the Philistines passed in their retreat from Socoh (1Sam. 17:52).
Also known as Sharaim
Shaaraim, meaning "two gates," was a town located in the Shephelah (lowland hills) of Judah, mentioned in close association with Socoh and Azekah (Josh. 15:36). The town is also referenced in the account of David's victory over Goliath and the Philistines (1Sam. 17). After the Philistines were defeated at Socoh, they retreated down the valley of Elah (modern Wadi es-Sant) toward Gath and Ekron, passing by Shaaraim (1Sam. 17:52). Some scholars suggest that the "two gates" mentioned in this passage may refer to the Philistine strongholds of Gath and Ekron themselves, rather than a specific town. The exact location of Shaaraim is uncertain, but it has been tentatively identified with Tell Zakariya or Khirbet Sa'ireh, both located in the Shephelah region. However, these identifications remain speculative due to limited archaeological evidence.
Approximate location: 31.700, 34.895 · view on a map · on the Bible atlas
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).
(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.
gates; valuation; hairs
SHAARA'IM (two gates). A city in the plain of Judah; called also Sharaim. 1 Sam 17:52; Josh 15:36. Probably identical with the ruin Saireh, west of Beit Atab. A town in Simeon. 1 Chr 4:31. In the list of Joshua it appears as Sharuhen and Shilem, which see.
SHAARA'IM (two gates). A city in the plain of Judah; called also Sharaim. 1 Sam 17:52; Josh 15:36. Probably identical with the ruin Saireh, west of Beit Atab. A town in Simeon. 1 Chr 4:31. In the list of Joshua it appears as Sharuhen and Shilem, which see.
Easton (1897), Smith (1863), Hitchcock (1869), Hastings (1898) and Schaff are in the public domain. Parsed text: neuu-org/bible-dictionary-dataset (CC BY 4.0). Headwords and whitespace normalised for this site.
2 verses in 2 books · English text: BSB (change it from the menu at the top) · Strong’s H8189
Shaaraim, Adithaim, and Gederah (or Gederothaim)—fourteen cities, along with their villages.
Then the men of Israel and Judah charged forward with a shout and pursued the Philistines to the entrance of Gath and to the gates of Ekron. And the bodies of the Philistines were strewn along the Shaaraim road to Gath and Ekron.
Names, family links and references: STEPBible TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Short descriptions were drafted with AI assistance by STEPBible. Family links follow STEPBible’s scholarly decisions where genealogies are ambiguous.