Shepham
שְׁפָם/SHEE-fam/
“Fruitful or bare”
Summary
A place on the ideal eastern boundary of the promised land, located between Hazar-enan and Riblah, though its exact site remains unidentified.
☩Location
Shepham was mentioned by Moses when specifying the eastern boundary of the land Israel was to inherit. It appears in the boundary description as the first landmark after Hazar-enan (where the northern boundary ended), lying between it and Riblah. The Hebrew name means 'naked' or 'bare place,' possibly indicating one of the barer ridges of the Anti-Lebanon range. Some scholars suggest Zabdi the Shiphmite, David's chief vinedresser, may have been a native of this place.
Key verses:Numbers 34:10-11
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Shepham," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. IX (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Shepham," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).
- 3.James Orr (ed.), "Shepham," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. IV (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).