Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Walter Mattfeld" <mattfeld AT mail.pjsnet.com>]

One of life's little mysteries is what to make of  Joshua's Shebarim,
mentioned in association with the rout of the Israelite army by the
inhabitants of Ai.

""The men of Ai killed about thirtysix of them, pursuing them outside the
gate as far as Shebarim, and cutting them down along the descent." (Josh.
7:5, Tanakh, 1988)

Scholars are not sure where this place is. Some have suggested it refers to
some landform perhaps "quarries." It is evidently, associated with some kind
of descent in the vicinity of Ai.

I note a small village just to the northeast of Beitin (Bethel ?) called
khirbat Deir Shebab, near this village is a track that descends past
et-Tell, following the valley formed by wadies Muheis and Asis, which lie on
et-Tell's (Ai's ?) northside. Although this track lies north of et-Tell, it
ends at Beitin. Another track goes eastward from Beitin towards khirbet el
Mukatir and et-Tell and on towards Deir Dibwan. From Dibwan a track heads
due north to link up with the track descending from Shebab at Wadi Asis (cf.
Map titled "Jerusalem," 1:40,000 Survey of Egypt, April 1918).

I note that there appears on this map only two ways to get to the vicinity
of et-Tell and Deir Dibwan from Jericho. One can ascend via the track going
up from Mukhmas (biblical Michmash ?) or one can ascend via the track going
up to the vicinity of Rummon and from there link up to the track ascending
the valley on the north side of Ai/et-Tell, up to Shebab where it turns to
Beitin.

I make the following proposals. The descent of Shebarim is the track
descending from Shebab, descending along the north bank of Wadies
Muheis-Asis, and on to the vicinity of Rummon, where link-up is made for the
track going on to Jericho.

The topography and the tracks on the map suggest the Isrealites were fleeing
back from whence they had come. They possibly fled east down the slope from
et-Tell, and in the vicinity of Deir Dibwan took the track from that area
heading for Rummon and the link-up artery to Jericho. The track from Dibwan
to Rummon crosses at the point that the track from Shebab ends, at Wadi
Asis. So, I guess one might say they were heading in the direction of the
descent of Shebab (Shebarim ?) at its southern terminus to link up with the
Rummon track and back to Jericho.

If I had to pick a site for Beth-Aven (Hebrew bet awen), I would be looking
for something near et-Tell which might preserve the Hebrew root `wn, and
that would be Deir Dibwan. Problem is, I don't know if any ancient ruins
exist at Deir Dibwan of the Iron Age.  We are told that Beth-aven was west
of Michmash. There is a track going up "somewhat westerly" (WNW) of Mukhmas
to Dibwan. Looking at the map grids, from the vicinity of the Jerusalem
grid, I note that Deir Dibwan is one grid west of Mukhmas. Some scholars
prefer Tell el Miriam due west of Mukhmas for Beth-Awen, problem is, it
isn't east of Bethel (Beitin). I note the map reveals the Deir Dibwan area
is the end of forested or cultivated slopes, to the east is only barren
wilderness. If  Beth-Aven/awen is Dibwan, perhaps the cultivated lands set
it off as an area beyond which was the wilderness, "the wilderness of
Beth-Aven" ? Beth-Aven is said to be east of Bethel and near Ai (Josh.7:2),
but west of Michmash (1Sam 13:5).

These are only suggestions, I wouldn't want to bet my life on any of this
speculation !

All the best,

Walter

Walter Reinhold Warttig Mattfeld
Walldorf by Heidelberg
Baden-Wurttemburg
Germany