ZEBOIIM zĭ boi’ əm (צְבֹיִ֖ם or צְבֹיִים; LXX uniformly Σεβωείμ; KJV ZEBOIM). One of the five “cities of the plain (valley).” It is first mentioned in the OT (Gen 10:19) in reference to the southern border of the Canaanites which ran from the coast inland toward Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim. Chedorlaomer, king of Elam, and his three allies attacked these towns during their raid along the ancient King’s Highway (Gen 14:2). Shemeber, king of Zeboiim, and his allies met the invaders in the Valley of Siddim (q.v.) but were defeated (Gen 14:2, 8, 10).

Presumably Zeboiim was destroyed with Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen 19:24-29). Moses later referred to the destruction of Zeboiim and its neighbors (Deut 29:23). Hosea used Zeboiim as an example of judgment on evil cities (Hos 11:8).

Its exact location is unknown, but presumably it lay at the southern end of the Dead Sea in the area now covered by water.

Bibliography J. P. Harland, “Sodom & Gomorrah,” BA IV (1942), 17-32; III (1942), 41-54.