Lexical Summary Shealim: Shaalim Original Word: שַׁעֲלִים Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Shalim Plural of shuw'al; foxes; Shaalim, a place in Palestine -- Shalim. see HEBREW shuw'al NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as shual Definition an area searched by Saul NASB Translation Shaalim (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs שְׁעָלִים proper name, of a location district in Israel; — ׳אֶרֶץ שׁ 1 Samuel 9:4, Εασακεμ, A Σααλειμ, ᵐ5L Σεγαλειμ; near Michmash SchickZPV iv. 248; not identified; = שַׁעַלְבִים We Dr Now; compare II. שׁוּעָל Th HPS Bu. שׁעם √assumed by Thes for מִשְׁעָם proper name q. v. Topical Lexicon Geographical overview The “land of Shaalim” is mentioned once, in 1 Samuel 9:4, when Saul and his servant searched for Kish’s missing donkeys. The route described—hill country of Ephraim → Shalishah → Shaalim → territory of Benjamin—places Shaalim somewhere on the border between the central hill country and Benjamin’s northern edge. Some suggest a connection with Shaalabbin (Joshua 19:42; 1 Kings 4:9), implying a location west of Ephraim, while others link it with the modern Wadi es-Su‘eiyl east of Bethel. Exact identification remains uncertain, yet the single notice indicates a rural tract familiar to Benjaminite herdsmen and within a day’s travel of Ramah. Historical setting The event occurs late in the judges period, when tribal territories were fluid and Philistine pressure was rising (1 Samuel 9:16). Kish’s livestock enterprise implies prosperity, and the freedom to roam through Shaalim shows relatively open borders before the monarchy centralized defense. Saul’s ability to traverse multiple districts without incident suggests established but cooperative local administrations. Biblical narrative significance 1 Samuel 9 uses mundane details—the loss of work animals and travel through obscure regions—to unveil divine orchestration of Israel’s first king. Shaalim marks a midpoint in Saul’s unplanned pilgrimage that culminates in his anointing at Ramah. The text notes failure at Shaalim (“but the donkeys were not there”) to highlight God’s hidden guidance. The apparent setback keeps Saul moving until he meets Samuel, illustrating Proverbs 16:9, “A man’s heart plans his course, but the LORD directs his steps.” Theological themes • Providence in ordinary life: The unspectacular territory of Shaalim becomes part of redemptive history because God weaves commonplace events into His larger purposes (Romans 8:28). Lessons for ministry 1. Routine duties may position believers for unexpected divine appointments; pastors and lay leaders alike should value faithful service in overlooked places. Intertextual connections Although Shaalim itself is isolated in Scripture, the surrounding chapters tie it to several motifs: Archaeological and scholarly notes • No definitive site has been excavated, but surveys of Benjaminite border regions document Iron Age farmsteads matching the pastoral economy implied in 1 Samuel 9. Practical application Modern believers seldom know when their “search through Shaalim” will intersect with God’s larger call. The passage encourages: Forms and Transliterations שַׁעֲלִים֙ שעלים ša‘ălîm ša·‘ă·lîm shaaLimLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Samuel 9:4 HEB: וַיַּעַבְר֤וּ בְאֶֽרֶץ־ שַׁעֲלִים֙ וָאַ֔יִן וַיַּעֲבֹ֥ר NAS: through the land of Shaalim, but [they were] not [there]. Then he passed KJV: the land of Shalim, and [there they were] not: and he passed through INT: passed the land of Shaalim else passed 1 Occurrence |
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