שָׁלִשָׁה
Shalishah, a place in Palestine
Definition
Shalishah is a proper noun referring to a geographical location in ancient Israel, mentioned only once in the Bible. It is identified as a region or district within the territory of the tribe of Ephraim, through which Saul passed while searching for his father's lost donkeys (1 Samuel 9:4). The name itself, meaning 'trebled land' or 'third part,' likely describes its topographical character, possibly as a fertile, tripled portion of land. While its precise location is uncertain, it is traditionally associated with the area near Baal-shalishah mentioned in 2 Kings 4:42, though that is a distinct place.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in 1 Samuel 9:4. It appears in a narrative context describing Saul's journey through the hill country of Ephraim. The usage is purely geographical, listing Shalishah alongside the regions of Shaalim and the land of Benjamin as areas searched. No other biblical books reference this specific location.
Etymology
The word שָׁלִשָׁה (Shalishah) is a feminine proper noun derived from the root שָׁלַשׁ (shalash, H8027), meaning 'to triple' or 'to do a third time.' It is related to the number three (שָׁלֹשׁ, shalosh). The name essentially means 'a third part' or 'trebled land,' likely describing a territory divided into three sections or a particularly fertile, tripled portion of agricultural land.
Semantic Range
As a place name, Shalishah reflects the Israelite practice of naming locations based on geographical features or divisions of tribal land. The 'third part' likely had administrative or agricultural significance, perhaps denoting a fertile district known for its productivity. Its mention in Saul's journey highlights the detailed geographical knowledge expected of the original audience and the narrative's grounding in a real, familiar landscape.
Baal-shalishah (Ba‛al Shâlishâh, H1190) — A distinct town in Ephraim, also meaning 'lord of the third part,' known for bringing firstfruits to Elisha (2 Kings 4:42).
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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