ZEBOIM zĭ bō’ əm (צְבֹעִ֖ים, LXX Σεβωείμ, Neh 11:34; גֵּ֥י הַצְּבֹעִ֖ים; Γαὶ̀ τὴ̀ν Σαμείμ, 1 Sam 13:18; meaning hyenas, valley of hyenas). 1. A Benjaminite town occupied after the Exile (Neh 11:34). The exact site is not known but possibly Khirbet Sabieh N of Lydda. The name occurs in Amarna Letter 274 as Sabuma.

2. A valley in Benjaminite territory SE of Michmash. Philistine raiders from Michmash traveled the hill road overlooking the Zeboim (Hyena) Valley with the Jordan Valley beyond. Wadis in the region still preserve the ancient name, e.g. Wadi Abu Daba’ (Valley of the Father of Hyenas) which runs into the Wadi Kelt.

Bibliography F. M. Abel, Géographie de la Palestine (1938), 452.