Lexical Summary Shamiyr: Brier, thorn, adamant Original Word: שָׁמִיר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Shamir The same as shamiyr; Shamir, the name of two places in Palestine -- Shamir. Compare Shamuwr. see HEBREW shamiyr see HEBREW Shamuwr Brown-Driver-Briggs II. שָׁמִיר proper name, of a location 1. in הֵר אֶפְרַיִם Judges 10:1,2, Σαμειρ; A ᵐ5L Σαφειρ. Topical Lexicon Geographical Setting Shamir designates two distinct hill-country towns in the Old Testament. One lay in the highlands allotted to Judah (Joshua 15:48), the other in the central range of Ephraim where Judge Tola lived and was buried (Judges 10:1-2). Both sites are described as upland settlements, implying natural fortification, abundant limestone, and terraced agriculture typical of the Judean and Ephraimite heights. Modern identifications are tentative: Judah’s Shamir is often linked with Khirbet es-Semirah on the southern slopes west of Hebron, while Ephraim’s Shamir is sometimes placed at Khirbet Samur east of Shechem. Though neither location has yielded definitive excavations, surface pottery from the Late Bronze and Iron I periods supports continuous occupation during the time of the Judges. Biblical Occurrences and Narrative Role 1. Joshua 15:48 lists Shamir among the thirty-eight mountain towns granted to Judah. Its inclusion underscores the completeness of Israel’s inheritance and the strategic importance of strongly situated hill towns for defending covenant territory. Historical Context During the Conquest era, hill towns like Shamir anchored Israel’s foothold amid entrenched Canaanite populations. By the time of the Judges, decentralized leadership meant that a town could serve as both personal residence and national seat of judgment. Shamir’s placement in Ephraim, the tribal heartland, facilitated communication north and south, mirroring later administrative centers such as Shiloh and Samaria. The absence of recorded conflict in Tola’s tenure may reflect Shamir’s defensible terrain and the judge’s effective governance. Theological Insights Shamir’s etymological link to thorns or adamant stone suggests themes of resilience and sanctified separation. In Scripture thorns signify the curse (Genesis 3:18) yet also serve as protective hedges (Job 1:10). A town bearing such a name reminds readers that God can transform symbols of hardship into strongholds of blessing. Tola’s quiet leadership from Shamir illustrates the Lord’s provision of peace through unheralded servants; His deliverance is not always dramatic like Gideon’s or Samson’s but sometimes steady, restorative, and marked by righteous administration. Ministry Applications • Faithfulness in Obscurity: Tola judged from a relatively small town, teaching that significant kingdom work often arises from overlooked places. Prophetic and Christological Echoes Like a thorn that pierces or a flint that sparks fire, Shamir hints at the Messiah who would wear a crown of thorns and set His face “like flint” toward the cross (Isaiah 50:7). The peaceful rule emanating from Shamir foreshadows the fuller peace of Christ’s kingdom, where steadfast righteousness overcomes cyclical oppression. Legacy While archaeological silence leaves Shamir’s precise ruins uncertain, the biblical record anchors its memory to God’s faithfulness amid Israel’s turbulent early years. Every mention of Shamir calls believers to trust that the Lord plants His servants exactly where He intends, fortifying them—like thorns or flint—against the pressures of their age so that they may preserve His people and magnify His glory. Forms and Transliterations בְּשָׁמִ֖יר בְּשָׁמִֽיר׃ בשמיר בשמיר׃ שָׁמִ֥יר שמיר bə·šā·mîr bəšāmîr beshaMir šā·mîr šāmîr shaMirLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Joshua 15:48 HEB: וּבָהָ֑ר שָׁמִ֥יר וְיַתִּ֖יר וְשׂוֹכֹֽה׃ NAS: In the hill country: Shamir and Jattir KJV: And in the mountains, Shamir, and Jattir, INT: the hill Shamir and Jattir and Socoh Judges 10:1 Judges 10:2 3 Occurrences |
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