Place near Ai where Israelites fled
Shebarim
Named in 1 verse of Joshua, first in Joshua 7:5.
שְׁבָרִיםShebarim
The name means “breakings; hopes.” Hitchcock's Bible Names, 1869
About Shebarim Written by AI
Shebarim is mentioned briefly in the account of Israel's defeat at Ai (Josh. 7:5). After the conquest of Jericho, the Israelites attacked the city of Ai but were defeated because of Achan's sin of taking devoted things from Jericho. As a result, the men of Ai struck down about thirty-six Israelites and pursued them from the city gate as far as Shebarim. The exact location of Shebarim is unknown, but it was likely a place near Ai where the terrain allowed the defenders to overtake the fleeing Israelites. The name "Shebarim" means "the breaks" or "the quarries," possibly indicating a rocky or broken landscape that made escape difficult. The mention of Shebarim in this narrative highlights the consequences of disobedience and sin within the Israelite camp. Achan's violation of God's command led to defeat and humiliation at the hands of a smaller enemy force. The pursuit of the Israelites to Shebarim underscores the extent of their defeat and the vulnerability caused by their failure to uphold God's standards of holiness.
Drafted by an AI model for STEPBible's TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Check it against the verses below.
Easton's Bible Dictionary, 1897
Breaks; ruins, a place near Ai (Josh. 7:5; R.V. marg., “the quarries”).
M. G. Easton, Illustrated Bible Dictionary, third edition (1897), public domain, from CrossWire. Shown as written; its Scripture quotes are from older translations.
31.917, 35.261 See it on a map
Where the Bible names it
- Joshua 7:5
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.
From STEPBible's TIPNR, Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0): names, family, references and the AI written article. Verse text is the BSB.