Shaalbim

Shaalbim (also spelled Shaalabbin) is a town in the Aijalon area, named in three settings: in the Danite allotment-list, in the Amorite-holdouts catalogue of Judges, and in Solomon's commissary-district roster. It is paired across all three with Aijalon.

Allotment in the Tribe of Dan

In the Joshua allotment-list, the city appears as Shaalabbin, slotted between two other Danite towns. "And Shaalabbin, and Aijalon, and Ithlah" (Jos 19:42). Shaalabbin opens the three-name run, with Aijalon next.

An Amorite Holdout

Judges names Shaalbim among the towns where the Amorites pressed to remain after the conquest. "But the Amorites determined to dwell in mount Heres, in Aijalon, and in Shaalbim: yet the hand of the house of Joseph prevailed, so that they became subject to slave labor" (Jdg 1:35). Mount Heres, Aijalon, and Shaalbim are stacked as the three Amorite-determined locations, and the verse closes by recording that the house of Joseph put them to slave labor.

A Solomonic Commissary Town

In the roster of Solomon's twelve commissary-district officers, Shaalbim falls under Ben-deker's district, paired again with Aijalon's neighbor Beth-shemesh. "Ben-deker, in Makaz, and in Shaalbim, and Beth-shemesh, and Elon-beth-hanan" (1Ki 4:9). The four-town list constitutes Ben-deker's commissary-charge, and Shaalbim stands second of the four.