Lexical Summary Telaim: Telaim Original Word: טְלָאִים Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Telaim From the plural of tla'; lambs; Telaim, a place in Palestine -- Telaim. see HEBREW tla' NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom tala Definition a place where Saul mustered his forces NASB Translation Telaim (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs I. טְלָאִים proper name, of a location with article ׳הַטְּל, place where Saul mustered his forces 1 Samuel 15:4, probably = טֶלֶם q. v. II. טְלָאִים see following. טלה (√ of following; meaning dubious; Arabic Topical Lexicon Geographical Setting Telaim lay in the southern hill country of Judah, a region characterized by rolling limestone ridges and open pastureland. Ancient routes from Hebron to Beersheba passed nearby, making the site suitable for large encampments and troop mustering. Its proximity to the Negev also positioned it as a strategic staging ground for operations against Amalekite territory to the south. Biblical Context: 1 Samuel 15:4 Telaim appears in the narrative of Saul’s divinely mandated campaign against Amalek. “So Saul summoned the troops and numbered them at Telaim—two hundred thousand foot soldiers and ten thousand men of Judah” (1 Samuel 15:4). The single mention spotlights Telaim as the rallying point where Saul assembled an unprecedented coalition force drawn from every tribe, with a special notation of Judah’s contingent. This detail underscores unity under the monarchy and anticipates Judah’s later prominence in Israel’s history. Historical Background 1 Samuel 15 recounts a pivotal moment in the early monarchy (circa 11th century BC). Following Israel’s victory over the Ammonites (1 Samuel 11) and Philistines (1 Samuel 13–14), the LORD instructed Saul through Samuel to “strike Amalek and devote to destruction all that they have” (1 Samuel 15:3). Telaim thus served as the logistical springboard for a divinely sanctioned act of holy war—ḥērem—intended both to judge Amalek for ancient aggression (Exodus 17:8–16; Deuteronomy 25:17–19) and to confirm Saul’s obedience. Theological and Ministry Significance 1. Obedience over Strategy. The location’s pastoral name (“lambs”) contrasts with the stern demand of ḥērem, highlighting the dissonance between perceived harmlessness and the severity of divine justice. Saul’s failure to carry out total destruction (1 Samuel 15:9) transforms Telaim from a symbol of unified obedience into the starting point of royal disqualification. Lessons for Contemporary Believers • A strong beginning at a place of provision (symbolized by “lambs”) must be matched by faithfulness through the entire mission. Related Sites and Identifications While the precise location of Telaim remains uncertain, scholars have proposed Khirbet Selm or a site south of Hebron near modern Telem. Its association with pastoral imagery parallels other southern Judean settlements such as Carmel (1 Samuel 25:2) and Ziph (1 Samuel 23:14). Intertextual Connections • Exodus 17:8–16 – Origin of the Amalekite conflict. Summary Telaim stands as more than a geographical footnote; it is the threshold of Saul’s defining test. From this place the king and his people marched under clear divine orders, only to falter through incomplete obedience. For students of Scripture, Telaim remains a lasting call to heed God fully, lest the promise of unity and victory be lost through partial compliance. Forms and Transliterations בַּטְּלָאִ֔ים בטלאים baṭ·ṭə·lā·’îm baṭṭəlā’îm battelaImLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Samuel 15:4 HEB: הָעָ֔ם וַֽיִּפְקְדֵם֙ בַּטְּלָאִ֔ים מָאתַ֥יִם אֶ֖לֶף NAS: and numbered them in Telaim, 200000 KJV: and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred INT: the people and numbered Telaim hundred thousand 1 Occurrence |
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is tie a lamb to a stake, confine; Syriac 
is make young, both apparently denominative; LagArmen. Stud. § 2229 finds earlier form of טָלֶה in Armenian).