Lexical Definition

‎שַׁעֲרַיִם‎ Shaʻărayim (shah-ar-ah'-yim) Shaaraim ^N:N--L
dual of ‎שַׁעַר‎; double gates

Shaaraim.

• § Shaaraim = "double gate"
• Shaarajim, a place in Palestine

1) a town in Judah
2) a town in Simeon

Brown-Driver-Briggs

‎שַׁעֲרַ֫יִם‎ proper name, of a location 1 in the Shephelah of Judah (Buhl^{Geogr. 194}) Josh 15:36, Σακαρειμ, ᵐ5^L Σεβαρειμ; ‎׳‎‎דֶּרֶךְ שׁ‎ 1Sam 17:52 (ᵐ5 τῶν πυλῶν).

2. in the Negeb (Simeon), ‎וּבְשַׁעֲרָ֑יִוֺ‎ 1Chr 4:31, Σεωρειμ, ᵐ5^L Σααριμ; = ‎שָׁרוּחֶ֑ן‎ (q. v.) Josh 19:6, and perhaps ‎שִׁלְחִיוֺ‎ (in Negeb of Judah) Josh 15:32 Buhl^{Geogr. m. 185}.

Brown-Driver-Briggs References

Profile

Shaaraim_1 • Town in Judah; site of Philistine retreat

Shaaraim was a town in the Shephelah of Judah (Josh. 15:36) and a place the Philistines passed in their retreat from Socoh (1 Sam. 17:52).

• A location first mentioned at Jos.15.36;
• only referred to as Shaaraim שַׁעֲרַיִם.
  

Shaaraim, meaning "two gates," was a town located in the Shephelah (lowland hills) of Judah, mentioned in close association with Socoh and Azekah (Josh. 15:36). The town is also referenced in the account of David's victory over Goliath and the Philistines (1 Sam. 17). After the Philistines were defeated at Socoh, they retreated down the valley of Elah (modern Wadi es-Sant) toward Gath and Ekron, passing by Shaaraim (1 Sam. 17:52). Some scholars suggest that the "two gates" mentioned in this passage may refer to the Philistine strongholds of Gath and Ekron themselves, rather than a specific town. The exact location of Shaaraim is uncertain, but it has been tentatively identified with Tell Zakariya or Khirbet Sa'ireh, both located in the Shephelah region. However, these identifications remain speculative due to limited archaeological evidence.

All entries for Shaaraim: שַׁעֲרַיִם