Places in the Bible Today:

Valley of Zeboim

Data

Translated NamesValley of Zeboim, valley of Zeboim, Valley of Zeboyim, valley of Zeboyim, Zeboim Valley
Typevalley
Notesseveral wadis in this vicinity have similar names and may instead be this valley
Geo Data KML (for Google Earth)
GeoJSON (for GIS applications)

6 Possible Identifications

  1. Wadi Abu ed Diba (modern): 30% confidence

    1. ruined bridge across Wadi Abu ed DibaWadi Abu ed Diba

  2. Nahal Mikhmash (modern): 15% confidence

    1. panorama of Nahal MikhmashNahal Mikhmash

  3. Wadi al Juththa (modern): 15% confidence

    1. panorama of cliffs along Wadi al JuththaWadi al Juththa

  4. Wadi Shaqq ad Dab (modern): less than 10% confidence

    1. satellite view of the region around Wadi Shaqq ad DabWadi Shaqq ad Dab

  5. Wadi al Fara (modern): less than 10% confidence

    1. panorama of Wadi al FaraWadi al Fara

  6. Wadi Qelt (modern): less than 10% confidence

    1. canyon of Wadi QeltWadi Qelt

Verses (1)

1Sam 13:18

Linked Data Identifiers

SourceIdentifier
Logos FactbookValley of Zeboim
OpenBible.info (2007)Valley of Zeboim
OpenBible.infoa7c5927 (Valley of Zeboim)
TIPNRZeboim_Valley@1Sa.13.18
WikipediaZeboim (Hebrew Bible) (partial)

Sources

  1. Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary (1992): Zeboim (place)
  2. Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000): Zeboim
  3. Grollenberg, Atlas of the Bible (1957): Valley of Zeboim
  4. Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (2003)
  5. Holman Illustrated Guide to Bible Geography (2020): page 128
  6. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1979): Zeboim
  7. McKinny, Historical Geography of the Administrative Division of Judah (2014): page 317
  8. New Bible Dictionary (1996): Zeboim
  9. New Unger’s Bible Dictionary (1988)
  10. Reader’s Digest Atlas of the Bible (1981): Zeboim
  11. Tyndale Bible Dictionary (2001): Zeboim
  12. Westminster Historical Atlas to the Bible (1956): Zeboim, Valley of
  13. Wycliffe Bible Encyclopedia (1975): Zeboim
  14. Zondervan Encyclopedia of the Bible (2010)

Confidence Trends over Time

This chart indicates how confidence in the identifications is changing over time. Each dot (connected by a dotted line) reflects the confidence of an identification over the preceding ten years (e.g., the 2009 dot reflects scholarship from 2000 to 2009), and the corresponding solid line reflects a best-fit line for the identification. Confidences that cluster near or below 0% indicate low confidence. Because of the small dataset, it's best to use this chart for general trends; if one identification is trending much higher than the others, for example, then you can probably have higher confidence in the identification. This chart only reflects the sources I consulted (listed above), not an exhaustive review of the literature.

Thumbnail Image Credits

Ori Mey Raz, Bukvoed, Bukvoed, Contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data 2019, תמר הירדני, Hardscarf

About

This page attempts to identify all the possible locations where this biblical place could be. The confidence levels add up to less than 100%, indicating that the modern location is uncertain. It's best to think about the confidences in relative rather than absolute terms. Often they reflect different schools of thought, each confident in their identifications.