SEPHARVAIM sēf’ ər vā’ əm (סְפַרְוַ֔יִם, dual form of unknown meaning). A place from which settlers were brought to re-populate Israel after the deportation to Assyria (2 Kings 17:24). Their deities included Adrammelech and Annamelech (q.v.). Sennacherib’s envoy mentioned it as a place whose gods were helpless against the Assyrians (2 Kings 18:34, et al.). There are two possible identifications: (1) The less likely is Sippar in Mesopotamia known as Sippar of Shamash and Sippar of Anunitum, thus accounting for the dual form; (2) Shabarain in Syria which was captured by Shalmanezer. Biblical Sibraim (Ezek 47:16) may refer to this site. The second possibility is more likely since it suits the Syrian context of Sepharvaim (mentioned along with Hamath in Syria) and the possible Syrian character of Adrammelech.