Telaim
Telaim is an ancient city mentioned in the Old Testament, located in the region of Negev in modern-day Israel. Known today as Khirbet Abu Tulul. It appears across 2 verses in Scripture.
Biblical History
Telaim occupies a brief but strategically important role in the narrative of King Saul's military campaign against the Amalekites. In 1 Samuel 15:4, Saul mustered his forces at Telaim before marching against Amalek, assembling two hundred thousand foot soldiers plus ten thousand men of Judah. The site thus served as a staging ground for one of the most theologically consequential battles in Saul's reign — the campaign in which God commanded the complete destruction (herem) of Amalek, and in which Saul's failure to obey fully led to his rejection as king. Telaim is likely to be identified with Telem, a town in the Negev mentioned in Joshua 15:24 as part of the southernmost allotment of Judah. The name may mean 'lambs' in Hebrew, possibly indicating it served as a pastoral center. Its location in the Negev desert made it a natural assembly point for southward military campaigns into Amalekite territory, which occupied the steppe regions south and southeast of Judah.
Archaeological & Historical Notes
Telaim is tentatively identified with Khirbet Abu Tulul in the eastern Negev of modern Israel, though the identification remains uncertain. The site lies in the arid zone south of Beer-sheba, consistent with the biblical description of campaigns against the Amalekites in the southern wilderness. Archaeological surveys of the Negev highlands have revealed numerous Iron Age I and II sites in this region, reflecting Israelite settlement and military activity during the period of the monarchy. No large-scale excavations have been conducted specifically at Khirbet Abu Tulul, but surface surveys indicate occupation during periods consistent with Saul's reign in the late 11th century BC.
Verse Appearances (2)
Josh
1Sam
Sources: ISBE Encyclopedia · OpenBible Geocoding (CC BY) · Pleiades Gazetteer View all →