Places in the Bible Today:

Ge-harashim

Data

Translated NamesCraftsmen’s Valley, Ge-Harashim, Ge-harashim, Ge Harashim, valley of Charashim, Valley of Craftsmen, Valley of the Craftsmen
Typevalley
Geo Data KML (for Google Earth)
GeoJSON (for GIS applications)

5 Possible Identifications

  1. within 5 km of Lod (ancient): 50% confidence

    1. building at Lodwithin 5 km of Lod

  2. Wadi esh Shellal (modern): less than 10% confidence

    1. satellite view of the region around Wadi esh ShellalWadi esh Shellal

  3. about 1 km around Sarafand el Kharab (modern): less than 10% confidence

    1. aerial panorama looking north of Ness Ziona including Sarafand el Kharab, which is beyond the road at the topabout 1 km around Sarafand el Kharab

  4. about 2 km around Khirbet Hirsha (modern): less than 10% confidence

    1. cistern at Khirbet Hirshaabout 2 km around Khirbet Hirsha

  5. not a place (person): less than 10% confidence

Verses (2)

  1. 1Chr 4:14
  2. Neh 11:35

Linked Data Identifiers

SourceIdentifier
Logos FactbookGe-Harashim
OpenBible.infoabf0690 (Ge-harashim)
TIPNRGe-harashim@1Ch.4.14
UBS Names Databaseot ID_721

Sources

  1. Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary (1992)
  2. Baker Illustrated Bible Dictionary (2013): Ge Harashim
  3. Baly, Atlas of the Biblical World (1971): Craftsmen, valley of
  4. Baly, The Geography of the Bible (1974): page 131
  5. Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000): Ge-Harashim
  6. Expositor’s Bible Commentary (1984): Neh 11:35
  7. Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (2003)
  8. Holman Illustrated Guide to Bible Geography (2020): page 91
  9. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1979): Ge-Harashim
  10. Lexham Bible Dictionary (2016): Ge-harashim
  11. Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary (2014): Ge-harashim
  12. Tyndale Bible Dictionary (2001): Ge-harashim
  13. Westminster Historical Atlas to the Bible (1956): Charashim, Valley of
  14. Wycliffe Bible Encyclopedia (1975): Charashim
  15. Zondervan Atlas of the Bible (2010)
  16. Zondervan Encyclopedia of the Bible (2010)
  17. Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary (2009): Neh 11:35
  18. Zondervan Pictorial Bible Atlas (1972): page 131

Confidence Trends over Time

This chart indicates how confidence in the identifications is changing over time. Each dot (connected by a dotted line) reflects the confidence of an identification over the preceding ten years (e.g., the 2009 dot reflects scholarship from 2000 to 2009), and the corresponding solid line reflects a best-fit line for the identification. Confidences that cluster near or below 0% indicate low confidence. Because of the small dataset, it's best to use this chart for general trends; if one identification is trending much higher than the others (in this case, within 5 km of Lod), then you can probably have higher confidence in the identification. This chart only reflects the sources I consulted (listed above), not an exhaustive review of the literature.

Thumbnail Image Credits

רחל שרוני, Contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data 2019, Amos Meron, bentzy

About

This page attempts to identify all the possible locations where this biblical place could be. The confidence levels add up to less than 100%, indicating that the modern location is uncertain. It's best to think about the confidences in relative rather than absolute terms. Often they reflect different schools of thought, each confident in their identifications.