Shaalbim
SHAALBIM (shā-ăl'bĭm, Heb. sha‘albîm). A town won by the Danites from the Amorites with the help of the Ephraimites (Judg.1.35). In Solomon’s time a representative from this town was appointed as commissary officer (1Kgs.4.9). “Eliahba the Shaalbonite” (2Sam.23.32; 1Chr.11.33), one of David’s special guards, came from this town (Shaalbon = Shaalbim). Some have identified Shaalbim with modern Selbit, a town in central Palestine.
SHAALBIM shā ăl’ bĭm (שַֽׁעַלְבִ֑ים, LXX θαλαμιν, and σαλαβιμ, foxes or place of foxes). A site in Dan in which the Amorites were able to maintain themselves through the Heb. conquests (Judg 1:35). Solomon made it one of the administrative centers for his provisions organization (1 Kings 4:9). The gentilic adjective, “Shaalbonite,” used of Eliahba (KJV 2 Sam 23:32; 1 Chron 11:33; RSV: “Eliahba of Shaalbon”) may preserve the gentilic form of “Shaalbim” since “Shaalbon” does not occur as a place name elsewhere. It is prob. the same as Shaalabbin (q.v.) since the two have the same general geographic associations (e.g. Aijalon) and their morphological differences are easily explained.
The contexts of Joshua 19:42 and 1 Kings 4:9 would place Shaalbim in the region of Eshtaol, Beth-Shemesh, and Aijalon c. fifteen m. W of Jerusalem in the territory of Dan. Modern Selbit, c. three m. NW of Aijalon and eight m. N of Beth-Shemesh, is usually suggested as its identification; but this identification is uncertain.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915)
When the Amorites had forced the children of Da into the mountain they came and dwelt in Mt. Heres, Aijalon and Shaalbim, where, it appears, they were made tributary to the house of Joseph (Jud 1:35). In the time of Solomon it was included in the administrative district presided over by Ben-deker, along with Makaz, Beth-shemesh and Elon-beth-hanan (1Ki 4:9). Beth-shemesh is the same as Ir-shemesh (Jos 19:42). Shaalbim is probably only another name of Shaalabbin. One of David’s mighty men is called Eliahba the Shaalbonite. This presumes the existence of a town called Shaalbon (2Sa 23:32; 1Ch 11:33), which again is probably identical with Shaalbim. Eusebius (in Onomasticon) identifies it with Salaba, a large village in the district of Sebaste (Samaria), which apparently Eusebius and Jerome thought to be in the territory of Dan. It seems, however, too far to the North. Jerome in his commentary on Eze 48 speaks of the towers of Aijalon and Selebi and Emmaus. Conder would identify Selebi with Selbit, 3 miles Northwest of Aijalon (Yalo), and 8 miles North of Bethshemesh. This would suit for Shaalbim, as far as position is concerned; but it is difficult to account for the heavy "T" (Hebrew letter Tet) in the name, if derived from Shaalbim.