SHAARAIM shā ə rā’ əm (שַׁעֲרַ֨יִמ׃֙, two gates). 1. A town in the Shephelah (lowland hills) SW of Jerusalem (Josh 15:33-36). The valley of Elah (modern Wadi es-Sant), down which the Philistines retreated in 1 Samuel 17, is identified as “the way from Shaaraim” (v. 52). This implies only that Shaaraim commanded this valley, not necessarily that Shaaraim was below Azekah (v. 1). Its location is unknown.

2. A Simeonite village in southern Judah (1 Chron 4:28-31). Comparison with other town lists (Josh 15:27-32; 19:2-6) has suggested identity with Shilhim (q.v.) and Sharuhen (q.v.), but these lists are not similar enough to establish the identities. Its location is unknown.