Shittim, also called Abel-shittim, the final Israelite encampment before entering Canaan.
Also known as Abel-shittim · Abel Shittim
Shittim, also known as Abel-shittim, was the last campsite of the Israelites before they crossed the Jordan River to enter Canaan. It was located in the plains of Moab, east of the Jordan and opposite Jericho (Numbers 33:49). At Shittim, the Israelites fell into sin with the Moabite women and worshipped the Moabite god Baal of Peor, resulting in a plague that killed 24,000 people (Numbers 25:1-9). It was also from Shittim that Joshua sent two spies to investigate Jericho (Joshua 2:1) and where the Israelites camped before crossing the Jordan (Joshua 3:1). The prophet Micah later recalled the events at Shittim, from Balaam to the crossing of the Jordan, as evidence of God's righteous acts toward Israel (Micah 6:5).
Approximate location: 31.858, 35.642 · view on a map · on the Bible atlas
Acacias, also called “Abel-shittim” (Num. 33:49), a plain or valley in the land of Moab where the Israelites were encamped after their two victories over Sihon and Og, at the close of their desert wanderings, and from which Joshua sent forth two spies (q.v.) “secretly” to “view” the land and Jericho (Josh. 2:1).
(the acacias), the place of Israel’s encampment between the conquest of the transjordanic highlands and the passage of the Jordan. (Numbers 25:1; 33:49; Joshua 2:1; 3:1; Micah 6:5) Its full name appears to be given in the first of these passage—Abel has-Shittim, “the meadow, or moist place, of the acacias.” it was “in the Arboth-moab, by Jordan-Jericho,” (Numb 22:1; 26:3; 31:12; 33:48,49 That is to say, it was in the Arabah or Jordan valley, opposite Jericho.
SHIT'TIM (acacias), the last encampment of the Israelites before entering Canaan; the scene of the sin with the Midianites, and of its terrible punishment, Num 25; Num 31:1-12; the completion of the Law and the farewell of Moses; the sending forth of the spies to Jericho; and the final preparation before crossing the Jordan. Josh 2. Physical Features. - Shittim - also called Abel-shittim, or "the meadow of acacias," from the number of acacia trees in it - was the green, fertile, well-watered plain stretching from the foot of the mountains of Moab to the Jordan. Tristram describes it as "by far the largest and richest oasis in the whole Ghor." Many acacia (shittim) trees still grow there. The plain now bears the name of Ghor es-Seisaban. At the north is Tell Nimrin (Beth-nimrah). South of this are Tell Kefrain (Abel-shittim and Abila of Josephus), Tell er-Rama (Bethharam), and Suceimeh, which Dr. Merrill and others would identify with Bethjeshimoth. See Abel-shittim.
SHITTIM, THE VALLEY OF, referred to in Joel 3:18, may denote the same valley mentioned above,
indicating that the blessing should spread even beyond the borders of Judah. Some, however, suppose that the reference is to a valley in which acacias grew, on the west side of the Jordan, and nearer Jerusalem.
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.
5 verses in 3 books · English text: BSB (change it from the menu at the top) · Strong’s H7851
While Israel was staying in Shittim, the men began to indulge in sexual immorality with the daughters of Moab,
And there on the plains of Moab they camped by the Jordan, from Beth-jeshimoth to Abel-shittim.
Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim, saying, “Go, inspect the land, especially Jericho.” So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there.
Early the next morning Joshua got up and left Shittim with all the Israelites. They went as far as the Jordan, where they camped before crossing over.
My people, remember what Balak king of Moab counseled and what Balaam son of Beor answered. Remember your journey from Shittim to Gilgal, so that you may acknowledge the righteousness of the LORD.’”
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.