Shual
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Topical Encyclopedia
Etymology and Meaning:
The name "Shual" is derived from the Hebrew word "שׁוּעָל" (Shu'al), which means "fox" or "jackal." This name is indicative of the characteristics or the environment associated with the individual or location bearing it.

Biblical References:
Shual is mentioned in the context of the Old Testament, specifically within the historical narratives of the Israelites.

1. Region of Shual:
The "land of Shual" is referenced in 1 Samuel 13:17. This passage describes the movements of the Philistine raiding parties during the time of King Saul. The Berean Standard Bible states: "And raiders went out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies. One company turned toward Ophrah, to the land of Shual." This indicates that Shual was a region within the territory of Israel, likely situated in the northern part of the tribal lands of Benjamin or Ephraim. The exact location is not definitively known, but it was significant enough to be mentioned as a target of Philistine aggression.

2. Person Named Shual:
In 1 Chronicles 7:36, Shual is listed as a descendant of Asher, one of the twelve tribes of Israel. The BSB records: "The sons of Zophah: Suah, Harnepher, Shual, Beri, Imrah." This genealogical mention places Shual within the broader context of the tribal lineage, highlighting the importance of family heritage and tribal affiliations in Israelite society.

Historical and Cultural Context:
The mention of Shual in the context of Philistine raids underscores the constant threat and tension between the Israelites and their neighbors during the period of the Judges and the early monarchy. The Philistines were a formidable enemy, and their incursions into Israelite territory were a significant challenge for King Saul and his successors.

The genealogical reference in 1 Chronicles situates Shual within the tribe of Asher, one of the northern tribes of Israel. This tribe was known for its agricultural prosperity and was allotted land in the fertile region of Canaan. The inclusion of Shual in the genealogical records reflects the importance of maintaining detailed family histories, which were crucial for inheritance rights and tribal identity.

Theological Significance:
Theologically, the references to Shual, both as a region and as a person, illustrate the broader narrative of God's providence and the unfolding of His covenant promises to the people of Israel. The land of Shual, as part of the Promised Land, represents the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham to give his descendants a land of their own. The genealogical mention of Shual within the tribe of Asher highlights the continuity of God's covenant through the generations, emphasizing the importance of lineage and the faithfulness of God to His people.

Conclusion:
While Shual is not a major figure or location in the biblical narrative, its mention provides insight into the historical and cultural context of ancient Israel. The references to Shual contribute to the rich tapestry of the biblical account, illustrating the complexities of Israel's history and the enduring faithfulness of God to His covenant people.
Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary
Shual

fox; path; first

Smith's Bible Dictionary
Shual

(a jackal), son of Zophah, an Asherite. (1 Chronicles 7:36) (B.C. after 1445.)

Easton's Bible Dictionary
Shual, The land of

Land of the fox, a district in the tribe of Benjamin (1 Samuel 13:17); possibly the same as Shalim (9:4), in the neighbourhood of Shaalabbin (Joshua 19:42).

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
SHUAL, LAND OF

('erets shu`al; he Sogal): From their encampment at Michmash the Philistines sent out marauding bands, one going westward toward Beth-horon, another eastward, "the way of the border that looketh down upon the valley of Zeboim." The pass to the South was held against them by Israel. The third party therefore went northward, turning "unto the way that leadeth to Ophrah, unto the land of Shual" (1 Samuel 13:17 f). Ophrah is probably identical with et-taiyibeh, a village which lies some 5 miles East of Beitin (Bethel). It is in this district therefore that the land of Shual must be sought, but no definite identification is possible.

W. Ewing

SHUAL

shoo'-al (shu`al): An Asherite (1 Chronicles 7:36).

Strong's Hebrew
2705. Chatsar Shual -- "village of the fox," a place in S. Judah
Chatsar Shual. 2704, 2705. Chatsar Shual. 2706 . "village of the fox,"
a place in S. Judah. Transliteration: Chatsar Shual Phonetic ...
/hebrew/2705.htm - 6k

7777b. Shual -- "fox," an Asherite
... 7777a, 7777b. Shual. 7778 . "fox," an Asherite. Transliteration: Shual
Short Definition: Shual. Word Origin from the same as shual ...
/hebrew/7777b.htm - 5k

7777a. Shual -- "fox," a district in Isr.
... 7777, 7777a. Shual. 7777b . "fox," a district in Isr. Transliteration:
Shual Short Definition: Shual. Word Origin from the same ...
/hebrew/7777a.htm - 5k

7776. shual -- fox, perhaps jackal
... 7775, 7776. shual. 7777 . fox, perhaps jackal. Transliteration: shual Phonetic
Spelling: (shoo-awl') Short Definition: foxes. ... 7775, 7776. shual. 7777 . ...
/hebrew/7776.htm - 6k

7777. Shuw'al -- "fox," a district in Isr.
Shuw'al. 7776, 7777. Shuw'al. 7777a . "fox," a district in Isr. Transliteration:
Shuw'al Phonetic Spelling: (shoo-awl') Short Definition: Shual. Shual ...
/hebrew/7777.htm - 5k

8171. Shealim -- an area searched by Saul
... Definition: Shaalim. Word Origin from the same as shual Definition an area
searched by Saul NASB Word Usage Shaalim (1). Shalim. Plural ...
/hebrew/8171.htm - 6k

8169. Shaalbim -- perhaps "(haunt of) foxes," a city in Dan
... Word Origin from the same as shual Definition perhaps "(haunt of) foxes," a city
in Dan NASB Word Usage Shaalabbin (1), Shaalbim (2). Shaalabbin, Shaalbim. ...
/hebrew/8169.htm - 6k

Library

Jonathan's Brave Deed
... Philistines came out of the camp in three divisions to steal whatever they could
find: one division turned toward Ophrah, in the land of Shual, another toward ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/jonathans brave deed.htm

Thesaurus
Shual (6 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Shual, The land of. Land of the fox, a ... 19:42). Int.
Standard Bible Encyclopedia. SHUAL, LAND OF. ('erets shu`al ...
/s/shual.htm - 9k

Hazar-shual (4 Occurrences)
Hazar-shual. Hazarshual, Hazar-shual. Hazar-shu'al . ... HAZAR-ADDAR; HAZAR-ENAN;
HAZAR-GADDAH; HAZAR-HATTICON; HAZAR-MAVETH; HAZAR-SHUAL; HAZAR-SUSA; HAZAR-SUSIM ...
/h/hazar-shual.htm - 8k

Shu'al (2 Occurrences)
Shu'al. Shual, Shu'al. Shua's . ... 1 Chronicles 7:36 Sons of Zophah: Suah, and
Harnepher, and Shual, and Beri, and Imrah, (See RSV). Shual, Shu'al. Shua's > ...
/s/shu'al.htm - 6k

Hazar (12 Occurrences)
... 6. Hazar-shual: Hazar-Shual (Hebrew chatsar shu`al), a place in the South of Judah
(Joshua 15:28) assigned to Simeon (Joshua 19:3 1 Chronicles 4:28). ...
/h/hazar.htm - 13k

Land (19790 Occurrences)
... W. Ewing. SHUAL, LAND OF. ... It is in this district therefore that the land of Shual
must be sought, but no definite identification is possible. W. Ewing. ...
/l/land.htm - 21k

Ophrah (9 Occurrences)
... another eastward, down "the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness"; the third
"turned unto the way that leadeth to Ophrah, unto the land of Shual." This must ...
/o/ophrah.htm - 13k

Beer-sheba (33 Occurrences)
... (ASV BBE DBY JPS WBS YLT RSV). Joshua 15:28 and Hazar-shual, and Beer-sheba,
and Biziothiah, (ASV BBE DBY JPS WBS YLT RSV). Joshua ...
/b/beer-sheba.htm - 16k

Hazar-shu'al (2 Occurrences)
Hazar-shu'al. Hazar-shual, Hazar-shu'al. Ha'zar-shu'al . ... Hazar-shu'al (2
Occurrences). Joshua 15:28 and Hazar-shual, and Beer-sheba, and Biziothiah; (See ...
/h/hazar-shu'al.htm - 6k

Beersheba (33 Occurrences)
... Joshua 15:28 Hazar Shual, Beersheba, Biziothiah, (WEB KJV NAS NIV). ... Nehemiah 11:27
and in Hazar Shual, and in Beersheba and its towns, (WEB KJV NAS NIV). ...
/b/beersheba.htm - 22k

Hazarshual (4 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. HAZAR-ADDAR; HAZAR-ENAN; HAZAR-GADDAH;
HAZAR-HATTICON; HAZAR-MAVETH; HAZAR-SHUAL; HAZAR-SUSA; HAZAR-SUSIM. ...
/h/hazarshual.htm - 7k

Resources
Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Shual (6 Occurrences)

Joshua 15:28
Hazar Shual, Beersheba, Biziothiah,
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Joshua 19:3
Hazar Shual, Balah, Ezem,
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

1 Samuel 13:17
The spoilers came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies: one company turned to the way that leads to Ophrah, to the land of Shual;
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

1 Chronicles 4:28
They lived at Beersheba, and Moladah, and Hazarshual,
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS NIV)

1 Chronicles 7:36
The sons of Zophah: Suah, and Harnepher, and Shual, and Beri, and Imrah,
(WEB KJV ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Nehemiah 11:27
and in Hazar Shual, and in Beersheba and its towns,
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS NIV)

Subtopics

Shual

Shual: A Country of: Unknown Location

Shual: Son of Zophah

Related Terms

Ha'zar-shu'al (2 Occurrences)

Shual (6 Occurrences)

Hazar-shu'al (2 Occurrences)

Fox (2 Occurrences)

Shua's (2 Occurrences)

Hazarsusa

Land (19790 Occurrences)

Hazar-shual (4 Occurrences)

Hazar (12 Occurrences)

Shuah: Son of Abraham by his Wife (Concubine), Keturah
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