shittim Summary and Overview

acacias, also called "Abel-shittim" (Num. 33:49), a plain or valley in the land of Moab where the Israelites were encamped after their two victories over Sihon and Og, at the close of their desert wanderings, and from which Joshua sent forth two spies (q.v.) "secretly" to "view" the land and Jericho (Josh. 2:1).

(the acacias), the place of Israel's encampment between the conquest of the transjordanic highlands and the passage of the Jordan. #Nu 25:1; 33:49; Jos 2:1; 3:1; Mic 6:5| Its full name appears to be given in the first of these passage --Abel has-Shittim, "the meadow, or moist place, of the acacias." it was "in the Arboth-moab, by Jordan-Jericho," (Numb 22:1; 26:3; 31:12; 33:48,49 that is to say, it was in the Arabah or Jordan valley, opposite Jericho.

SHIT'TIM (acacias), the last encampment of the Israelites before entering Canaan; the scene of the sin with the Midianites, and of its terrible punishment, Num 25; Num 31:1-12; the completion of the Law and the farewell of Moses; the sending forth of the spies to Jericho; and the final preparation before crossing the Jordan. Josh 2. Physical Features. - Shittim - also called Abel-shittim, or "the meadow of acacias," from the number of acacia trees in it - was the green, fertile, well-watered plain stretching from the foot of the mountains of Moab to the Jordan. Tristram describes it as "by far the largest and richest oasis in the whole Ghor." Many acacia (shittim) trees still grow there. The plain now bears the name of Ghor es-Seisaban. At the north is Tell Nimrin (Beth-nimrah). South of this are Tell Kefrain (Abel-shittim and Abila of Josephus), Tell er-Rama (Bethharam), and Suceimeh, which Dr. Merrill and others would identify with Bethjeshimoth. See Abel-shittim.

(See SHITTAH; ABEL SHITTIM.)