8031. Shalishah
Lexical Summary
Shalishah: Shalishah

Original Word: שָׁלִשָׁה
Part of Speech: Proper Name Feminine
Transliteration: Shalishah
Pronunciation: shah-LEE-shah
Phonetic Spelling: (shaw-lee-shaw')
KJV: Shalisha
NASB: Shalishah
Word Origin: [feminine from H8027 (שָׁלַשׁ - three year old)]

1. trebled land
2. Shalishah, a place in Israel

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Shalisha

Feminine from shalash; trebled land; Shalishah, a place in Palestine -- Shalisha.

see HEBREW shalash

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from the same as shalosh
Definition
an area of Isr. searched by Saul
NASB Translation
Shalishah (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
שָׁלִ֫שָׁה proper name, of a location doubtful; — ׳אֶרֶץשֿׁ 1 Samuel 9:4, B ᵐ5L Σελχα, A Σαλισσα; ? compare בַּעַל שָׁלִשָׁה 2 Kings 4:42.

Topical Lexicon
Geographical Setting and Possible Identification

Shalishah is presented in Scripture as a distinct district within the central hill country of Israel, most naturally placed west or north-west of Mount Ephraim, along the caravan route that connected the Benjaminite territory with the Sharon plain. Early Christian writers such as Eusebius located it about fifteen Roman miles from Lydda, while modern proposals often situate it in the vicinity of modern-day Kefr Thilth or Tell el-Farah (North). The area’s well-watered valleys and terraced hills made it suitable for cereal cultivation, an agricultural profile that dovetails with the “firstfruits of barley bread” that later come from nearby Baal Shalishah (2 Kings 4:42).

Biblical Occurrence and Narrative Function

Shalishah appears once in the Masoretic Text at a pivotal juncture in Israel’s transition from the period of the judges to the united monarchy:
1 Samuel 9:4 – “So Saul passed through the hill country of Ephraim and crossed through the land of Shalishah, but they did not find them”.

The reference is more than a passing travel note. Saul’s seemingly mundane search for his father Kish’s lost donkeys propels him—by way of Shalishah—toward a life-changing encounter with the prophet Samuel. In this way the locale becomes part of the divine choreography that leads to Saul’s anointing as Israel’s first king (1 Samuel 10:1). Scripture thereby underlines the sovereignty of God over ordinary geography and daily tasks, using a specific, verifiable place to advance redemptive history.

Historical Connections with Baal Shalishah

Although Shalishah itself is mentioned only in 1 Samuel 9:4, its name reappears in compound form as Baal Shalishah (“Lord of Shalishah”) in 2 Kings 4:42. There, during Elisha’s ministry, a man “brought the man of God bread of the firstfruits, twenty loaves of barley and fresh grain in his sack”. The shared toponym suggests continuity of settlement and reinforces the region’s reputation for agricultural abundance. Elisha’s multiplication of those loaves for one hundred men foreshadows Christ’s feeding miracles (John 6:1–14), linking Shalishah to a broader biblical motif of God’s provision.

Theological Themes

1. Providence in the Ordinary: Saul’s trek through Shalishah shows that God guides His people even when they are unaware of His larger purposes (Proverbs 16:9).
2. Geographic Veracity: The specific mention of Shalishah, a real and traceable locale, attests to the historical reliability of the biblical record (Luke 1:1–4).
3. Seed and Harvest Imagery: From Saul’s search for lost livestock to Elisha’s loaves from Baal Shalishah, the region evokes themes of stewardship, loss, and provision—prefiguring the Good Shepherd who seeks the lost (Luke 15:4–7).

Ministry and Discipleship Reflections

• Faithfulness in Routine: Believers are encouraged to pursue daily responsibilities—however mundane—with integrity, trusting God to weave them into His larger plan, just as Saul’s donkey search led to divine appointment.
• Hospitality and Generosity: The offering from Baal Shalishah underscores the Kingdom principle that God multiplies what is given in faith (2 Corinthians 9:10).
• Geographic Memory: Modern readers can strengthen their confidence in Scripture by noting how God’s Word anchors salvation history in identifiable places such as Shalishah.

Key References

1 Samuel 9; 2 Kings 4:42–44; Luke 15:4–7; John 6:1–14; Proverbs 16:9; 2 Corinthians 9:10

Forms and Transliterations
שָׁלִ֖שָׁה שלשה šā·li·šāh šālišāh shaLishah
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
1 Samuel 9:4
HEB: וַיַּעֲבֹ֥ר בְּאֶֽרֶץ־ שָׁלִ֖שָׁה וְלֹ֣א מָצָ֑אוּ
NAS: through the land of Shalishah, but they did not find
KJV: the land of Shalisha, but they found
INT: and passed the land of Shalishah did not find

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 8031
1 Occurrence


šā·li·šāh — 1 Occ.

8030
Top of Page
Top of Page