Shikkeron
Shikkeron is an ancient city mentioned in the Old Testament, located in the region of Coastal Plain in modern-day Israel. Known today as Tell el Ful. It appears across 1 verse in Scripture.
Biblical History
Shikkeron appears in a single verse, Joshua 15:11, as a boundary marker in the description of Judah's northern border. The text reads that the boundary "went out to the shoulder of Ekron on the north, then the border arched around to Shikkeron, passed along to Mount Baalah, and went out to Jabneel. The border ended at the sea." This places Shikkeron in the Shephelah-coastal plain transition zone, west of the main Judean highlands, between the Philistine city of Ekron and the Mediterranean coast. The name is related to the Hebrew root for intoxication or drunkenness, possibly a site named for viticulture in the area. Shikkeron functioned as a landmark delineating the boundary between Judah and the coastal plain that would remain largely in Philistine hands. The boundary system in Joshua 15 is widely considered to reflect authentic administrative traditions of the Israelite monarchy, and sites like Shikkeron preserved geographical memory of pre-settlement or early settlement landmarks. Though the city receives no narrative attention beyond this verse, its inclusion in the boundary list confirms it was a recognized locality in the Judean geographical tradition.
Archaeological & Historical Notes
Shikkeron is tentatively identified with Tell el Ful (not to be confused with the Gibeah-associated Tell el-Ful near Jerusalem), located in the coastal plain south of Jabneh. The identification remains uncertain, based primarily on geographical logic within the Joshua 15 boundary description. Some scholars prefer an identification with a site closer to modern Ashkelon or in the vicinity of Timnah. No excavations have specifically targeted a site identified as Shikkeron. The coastal plain in this region has yielded Bronze and Iron Age material through various surveys, including evidence of Philistine and later Judean presence, but no specific site has produced evidence decisively linking it to the biblical name.
Verse Appearances (1)
Josh
Sources: ISBE Encyclopedia · OpenBible Geocoding (CC BY) · Pleiades Gazetteer View all →