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.