Definition and Meaning:
Sihor is a term found in the Bible, often associated with a body of water. The name "Sihor" is generally understood to refer to the Nile River or a branch of it, particularly in its context as a boundary marker. The term itself is thought to mean "black" or "turbid," likely referring to the dark, sediment-laden waters of the Nile.

Biblical References:
Sihor is mentioned in a few key passages in the Old Testament. In Joshua 13:3, it is described as a boundary of the land that the Israelites were to inherit: "from the Shihor east of Egypt to the border of Ekron on the north, all of it counted as Canaanite territory—the five rulers of the Philistines in Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron—the Avvites." Here, Sihor is identified as a geographical marker delineating the extent of the Promised Land.

In Isaiah 23:3, Sihor is referenced in the context of trade: "On the great waters came the grain of the Shihor; the harvest of the Nile was the revenue of Tyre, and she became the marketplace of the nations." This passage highlights the economic significance of the Nile, with its fertile banks providing sustenance and trade goods that were distributed throughout the region.

Jeremiah 2:18 also mentions Sihor in a rhetorical question posed by the prophet: "Now what have you gained by traveling along the road to Egypt, to drink the waters of the Shihor? And what have you gained by traveling along the road to Assyria, to drink the waters of the Euphrates?" This verse uses Sihor metaphorically to question Israel's reliance on foreign powers rather than trusting in God.

Historical and Geographical Context:
The identification of Sihor with the Nile River is supported by its geographical context in the biblical narrative. The Nile was the lifeblood of ancient Egypt, providing water, transportation, and fertile soil for agriculture. Its significance as a boundary marker in the biblical text underscores its importance in the ancient Near Eastern world.

The Nile's annual flooding deposited rich silt along its banks, making the surrounding land exceptionally fertile. This natural phenomenon contributed to Egypt's prosperity and its reputation as a "breadbasket" of the ancient world, as reflected in the trade references in Isaiah.

Theological Significance:
In the biblical narrative, Sihor serves as a symbol of both physical and spiritual boundaries. It represents the edge of the land promised to the Israelites, marking the transition from the known world of Egypt to the divinely ordained inheritance of Canaan. Theologically, it underscores the theme of God's provision and the call to trust in His promises rather than seeking security in foreign alliances or resources.

The mention of Sihor in prophetic literature, such as in Jeremiah, serves as a reminder of the futility of relying on human strength and the importance of faithfulness to God. The imagery of "drinking the waters of the Shihor" becomes a metaphor for seeking sustenance and security outside of God's covenant, highlighting the spiritual dangers of such pursuits.

Conclusion:
While Sihor is a relatively minor term in the biblical text, its implications are significant. It serves as a geographical, economic, and spiritual marker within the narrative, reminding readers of the importance of boundaries, both physical and spiritual, and the necessity of reliance on God.Sihor

black; trouble (the river Nile)

Sihor

(dark), accurately Shihor, once The Shihor, or Shihor of Egypt, when unqualified a name of the Nile. It is held to signify "the black" or "turbid." In Jeremiah the identity of Shihor with the Nile seems distinctly stated. (Jeremiah 2:18) The stream mentioned in (1 Chronicles 13:5) is possibly that of the Wadi l? Areesh .

Sihor

Black or turbid, the Nile. In Isaiah 23:3 and Jeremiah 2:18, this name must necessarily be understood of the Nile. In Joshua 13:3; 1 Chronicles 13:5, some have understood it of the little river between Egypt and Judah.

(correctly Shi'hor) black; dark the name given to the river Nile in Isaiah 23:3; Jeremiah 2:18. In Joshua 13:3 it is probably "the river of Egypt", i.e., the Wady el-Arish (1 Chronicles 13:5), which flows "before Egypt", i.e., in a north-easterly direction from Egypt, and enters the sea about 50 miles south-west of Gaza. SIHOR

si'-hor.

See SHIHOR.

7883. Shichor -- a stream on the border of Egypt
... Shihor, Sihor. Or Shichowr {shee-khore'}; or Shichor {shee-khore'}; probably from
shachar; dark, ie Turbid; Shichor, a stream of Egypt -- Shihor, Sihor. ...
/hebrew/7883.htm - 6k

Letter cviii. To Eustochium.
... the lonely wastes of the desert where the tracks of the traveller are lost in the
yielding sand, I will come to the river of Egypt called Sihor, [2871] that is ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter cviii to eustochium.htm

Footnotes
The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning. <. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/footnotes.htm

Sihor (3 Occurrences)
... of Gaza. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. SIHOR. si'-hor. See SHIHOR.
Multi-Version Concordance Sihor (3 Occurrences). Joshua 13 ...
/s/sihor.htm - 8k

Sihor-libnath
Sihor-libnath. Sihorlibnath, Sihor-libnath. Sikkuth . Int. Standard Bible
Encyclopedia SIHOR-LIBNATH. si'-hor-lib'-nath. See SHIHOR-LIBNATH. ...
/s/sihor-libnath.htm - 6k

Shihor (5 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Dark, (1 Chronicles 13:5), the southwestern boundary
of Canaan, the Wady el-`Arish. (see SIHOR; NILE.). Int. ...
/s/shihor.htm - 10k

Sihorlibnath
Sihorlibnath. Sihor, Sihorlibnath. Sihor-libnath . Int. Standard Bible
Encyclopedia SIHOR-LIBNATH. si'-hor-lib'-nath. See SHIHOR-LIBNATH. ...
/s/sihorlibnath.htm - 6k

Nile (37 Occurrences)
... Dark; blue, not found in Scripture, but frequently referred to in the Old Testament
under the name of Sihor, ie, "the black stream" (Isaiah 23:3; Jeremiah 2:18 ...
/n/nile.htm - 29k

Gazathites (2 Occurrences)
... Joshua 13:3 From Sihor, which is before Egypt, even unto the borders of Ekron northward,
which is counted to the Canaanite: five lords of the Philistines; the ...
/g/gazathites.htm - 7k

Gazathite (1 Occurrence)
... Joshua 13:3 From Sihor, which is before Egypt, even unto the borders of Ekron northward,
which is counted to the Canaanite: five lords of the Philistines; the ...
/g/gazathite.htm - 6k

Eshkalon (1 Occurrence)
... Joshua 13:3 From Sihor, which is before Egypt, even unto the borders of Ekron northward,
which is counted to the Canaanite: five lords of the Philistines; the ...
/e/eshkalon.htm - 6k

Eshkalonites (1 Occurrence)
... Joshua 13:3 From Sihor, which is before Egypt, even unto the borders of Ekron northward,
which is counted to the Canaanite: five lords of the Philistines; the ...
/e/eshkalonites.htm - 6k

Eshkalonite (1 Occurrence)
... Joshua 13:3 From Sihor, which is before Egypt, even unto the borders of Ekron northward,
which is counted to the Canaanite: five lords of the Philistines; the ...
/e/eshkalonite.htm - 7k

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