Place Old Testament
Zeboim Valley
Also known as Valley of, Zeboim =ESV, KJV; Valley of, the Zeboyim =NIV
The Valley of Zeboim, a location mentioned in the context of Saul's military campaigns against the Philistines (1Sam. 13:18). Mentioned once in Scripture, at 1 Samuel 13:18.
Why it matters. A valley mentioned in connection with Saul's military campaigns
- Primary passages
- Location
- 31.936, 35.425 (approximate, within about 2 km)
Coordinates from STEPBible TIPNR (palopenmaps.org link). Approximate; not independently verified.
- Last reviewed
- 2026-08-30 by the FaithGraph team
About Zeboim Valley
The Valley of Zeboim is mentioned in 1Sa.13.18 as one of the destinations of the Philistine raiding parties sent out from their camp at Michmash during the reign of King Saul. The passage describes three groups of raiders: one turned toward Ophrah in the land of Shual, another toward Beth-horon, and the third toward the border overlooking the Valley of Zeboim facing the wilderness. The exact location of the Valley of Zeboim is uncertain, but based on the context, it is believed to have been situated somewhere east of Michmash, possibly in the wilderness region near the Dead Sea. The name "Zeboim" may be related to the ancient city of Zeboiim, one of the cities of the plain destroyed along with Sodom and Gomorrah, although a direct connection is not certain. The mention of the Valley of Zeboim in this passage provides insight into the geography of the region and the military activities of the Philistines during Saul's reign, as they sought to assert their control over the territory of Israel.
Description from STEPBible TIPNR (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0, lightly reformatted. This is background reference material, not Scripture and not a FaithGraph editorial claim.
Connections
No reviewed connections yet.
Appears in Scripture
Named in 1 verse across 1 book. Occurrence data from STEPBible TIPNR (CC BY 4.0); references only, no translation text.
1 Samuel (1 verse)