place
Shebarim
שְׁבָרִים
- verses
- 1
- first named
- Joshua 7:5
- last named
- Joshua 7:5
- feature
- natural area
- coordinates
- 31.91°N · 35.31°E
western cliff of Wadi Makkuk (OpenBible)
The gazetteer records one identification, and no competing one.
Description
Shebarim in the text
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.
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