SHAALBIM shā ăl’ bĭm (שַֽׁעַלְבִ֑ים, LXX θαλαμιν, and σαλαβιμ, foxes or place of foxes). A site in Dan in which the Amorites were able to maintain themselves through the Heb. conquests (Judg 1:35). Solomon made it one of the administrative centers for his provisions organization (1 Kings 4:9). The gentilic adjective, “Shaalbonite,” used of Eliahba (KJV 2 Sam 23:32; 1 Chron 11:33; RSV: “Eliahba of Shaalbon”) may preserve the gentilic form of “Shaalbim” since “Shaalbon” does not occur as a place name elsewhere. It is prob. the same as Shaalabbin (q.v.) since the two have the same general geographic associations (e.g. Aijalon) and their morphological differences are easily explained.

The contexts of Joshua 19:42 and 1 Kings 4:9 would place Shaalbim in the region of Eshtaol, Beth-Shemesh, and Aijalon c. fifteen m. W of Jerusalem in the territory of Dan. Modern Selbit, c. three m. NW of Aijalon and eight m. N of Beth-Shemesh, is usually suggested as its identification; but this identification is uncertain.