Shebarim is a location mentioned in the Old Testament, specifically in the Book of Joshua. It is associated with the early Israelite conquest of Canaan under the leadership of Joshua. The name "Shebarim" is believed to mean "breaches" or "breakings," which may reflect the events that transpired there.

Biblical Reference:

The primary reference to Shebarim is found in Joshua 7:5. The context of this passage is the aftermath of the Israelites' initial defeat at Ai, a city they attempted to conquer following their successful siege of Jericho. The text states:

"And the men of Ai struck down about thirty-six of them, chasing them from the gate as far as the quarries and striking them down on the slopes. So the hearts of the people melted and became like water." (Joshua 7:5)

In this verse, "the quarries" is often understood to refer to Shebarim. The defeat at Ai was a significant event for the Israelites, as it was unexpected and led to a period of introspection and repentance. The defeat was attributed to the sin of Achan, who had taken forbidden items from Jericho, violating God's command.

Historical and Geographical Context:

The exact location of Shebarim is not definitively known, and it is not mentioned elsewhere in the Bible. Some scholars suggest that it may have been a natural feature, such as a ravine or a series of rock formations, which provided a strategic advantage to the men of Ai during their pursuit of the Israelites. The term "quarries" in the Berean Standard Bible translation suggests a place where stone was extracted, which aligns with the idea of a rugged or broken terrain.

Theological Significance:

The incident at Shebarim serves as a reminder of the importance of obedience to God's commands. The defeat at Ai, culminating in the retreat to Shebarim, highlighted the consequences of sin within the community of Israel. It underscored the necessity of holiness and collective responsibility among God's people. The subsequent repentance and rectification of Achan's sin led to renewed success for the Israelites in their conquest of Canaan.

Cultural and Literary Aspects:

In the narrative of Joshua, Shebarim represents a moment of crisis and turning point. The melting of the people's hearts "like water" is a vivid expression of fear and demoralization, contrasting sharply with the earlier triumph at Jericho. This literary device emphasizes the gravity of disobedience and the need for divine guidance and favor in achieving victory.

Overall, Shebarim is a minor yet symbolically significant location in the biblical narrative, illustrating the themes of sin, judgment, and redemption that are central to the account of Israel's journey into the Promised Land.Shebarim

breakings; hopes

Shebarim

(the breaches), a place named in (Joshua 7:5) only, as one of the points in the flight from Ai.

Breaks; ruins, a place near Ai (Joshua 7:5; R.V. marg., "the quarries"). SHEBARIM

sheb'-a-rim, she-ba'-rim (ha-shebharim; sunetripsan): After the repulse of the first attack on their city the men of Ai chased the Israelites "even unto Shebarim" (Joshua 7:5). the Revised Version margin reads "the quarries"; so Keil, Steuernagel, etc. Septuagint reads "until they were broken," i.e. until the rout was complete. The direction of the flight was of course from Ai toward Gilgal in the Jordan valley. No trace of such name has yet been found.

7671. Shebarim -- perhaps "quarries," a place near Ai
... 7670, 7671. Shebarim. 7672 . perhaps "quarries," a place near Ai. Transliteration:
Shebarim Phonetic Spelling: (sheb-aw-reem') Short Definition: Shebarim. ...
/hebrew/7671.htm - 6k

Achan's Sin, Israel's Defeat
... fled before the men of Ai.5. And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six
men: for they chased them from before the Irate even unto Shebarim, and smote ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/achans sin israels defeat.htm

Shebarim (1 Occurrence)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. SHEBARIM. ... No trace of such name has yet been
found. Multi-Version Concordance Shebarim (1 Occurrence). ...
/s/shebarim.htm - 7k

Quarries (4 Occurrences)
... kwor'-iz (pecilim (Judges 3:19, 26, "graven images"), shebharim (Joshua 7:5, "Shebarim,"
the Revised Version margin "the quarries")): Pesilim is elsewhere ...
/q/quarries.htm - 11k

Sheb'arim (1 Occurrence)
Sheb'arim. Shebarim, Sheb'arim. Shebat . Multi-Version Concordance Sheb'arim
(1 Occurrence). ... (See RSV). Shebarim, Sheb'arim. Shebat . Reference Bible.
/s/sheb'arim.htm - 6k

Thirty-six (7 Occurrences)
... Joshua 7:5 The men of Ai struck about thirty-six men of them, and they chased them
from before the gate even to Shebarim, and struck them at the descent. ...
/t/thirty-six.htm - 8k

Descent (22 Occurrences)
... Joshua 7:5 The men of Ai struck about thirty-six men of them, and they chased them
from before the gate even to Shebarim, and struck them at the descent. ...
/d/descent.htm - 15k

Melted (33 Occurrences)
... Joshua 7:5 The men of Ai struck about thirty-six men of them, and they chased them
from before the gate even to Shebarim, and struck them at the descent. ...
/m/melted.htm - 16k

Morad (1 Occurrence)
... Joshua 7:5 and the men of Ai smite of them about thirty and six men, and pursue
them before the gate unto Shebarim, and they smite them in Morad; and the heart ...
/m/morad.htm - 6k

Chased (21 Occurrences)
... Joshua 7:5 The men of Ai struck about thirty-six men of them, and they chased them
from before the gate even to Shebarim, and struck them at the descent. ...
/c/chased.htm - 13k

Slopes (15 Occurrences)
... Joshua 7:5 The men of Ai struck about thirty-six men of them, and they chased them
from before the gate even to Shebarim, and struck them at the descent. ...
/s/slopes.htm - 11k

Shebani'ah (7 Occurrences)
Shebani'ah. Shebaniah, Shebani'ah. Shebarim . ... Nehemiah 12:14 of Melicu, Jonathan;
of Shebaniah, Joseph; (See RSV). Shebaniah, Shebani'ah. Shebarim . ...
/s/shebani'ah.htm - 8k

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