Sepharvaim, Sepharvite

SEPHARVAIM, SEPHARVITE (sĕf'ar-vā'ĭm, sē'far-vīt). The place from which the Assyrians brought colonists to live in Samaria (2Kgs.17.24, 2Kgs.17.31). The inhabitants of the place were called Sepharvites. The place is also referred to in the Assyrian commander’s threatening speech to Jerusalem (2Kgs.18.34; 2Kgs.19.13) as a place conquered by the Assyrian armies. Formerly Sepharvaim was identified with Sippar in Babylonia, but recently scholars have tended to reject that theory and have identified it with the Sibraim of Ezek.47.16, a place located in the region of Hamath.