SALIM sǎ’ lǐm (Σαλίμ, G4890, prob. from Sem. original: cf. שָׁלֵ֜ם, see Shalem). The place where John was baptizing when Christ first became known for a baptism ministry (John 3:22-26). It was apparently a well-known site, since it was used to specify the location of Aenon (Sem. springs). It is not identified with certainty, but three suggestions merit discussions: (1) The Early Church, i.e. Jerome and Eusebius, located it at Salumias c. eight m. S of Scythopolis at modern Tell Radgah (i.e. Tell Sheikh es-Salim). This territory could well have been part of the Decapolis rather than part of Samaria. There are several springs nearby. (2) Albright suggests the well-known site of the same name E of Nablus. This is the nearest town to the springs of Wadi Far’ah. (3) IDB also mentions Judean Wadi Saleim six m. NE of Jerusalem near the springs of a second Wadi Far’ah.

Bibliography “Salim,” HDB (1902); W. F. Albright, The Archeology of Palestine (rev. 1960), 247; “Salim,” IDB (1962).