Bible Dictionaries
Shittim
Holman Bible Dictionary
(sshiht' tihm) Transliteration of Hebrew word for accacia trees and name of 1. a large area in Moab directly across the Jordan from Jericho and northeast of the Dead Sea. Israel camped there for a long period before crossing into the Promised Land. While at Shittim, they were blessed by Balaam (whom Balak had hired to curse Israel; Numbers 22-24; compare Micah 6:5 ), committed sin with the Moabite and Midianite women (Numbers 25:1 ), and Joshua was announced as Moses' successor (Deuteronomy 34:9 ). Joshua sent spies out from Shittim (Joshua 2:1; compare Joshua 3:1 ). It is modern tell el-Hammam es Samri about eight miles east of the Jordan. 2. In Joel 3:18 the symbolic meaning of acacias (note NAS) comes to the fore in the messianic picture of fertility for the Kidron Valley with a stream flowing from the Temple.
Copyright Statement
These dictionary topics are from the Holman Bible Dictionary, published by Broadman & Holman, 1991. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Broadman & Holman.
Bibliography Information
Butler, Trent C. Editor. Entry for 'Shittim'. Holman Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/hbd/s/shittim.html. 1991.