Bible Dictionary
Zalmon
Zalmon was both the name of one of David’s warriors and the name of a wooded mountain near Shechem. From its slopes Abimelech gathered wood to burn the stronghold of Shechem.
Definition
Zalmon, meaning “shady,” was both the name of one of David’s warriors and the name of a wooded mountain near Shechem. The warrior is also called Ilai.
Biblical Usage
Abimelech and his followers gathered branches from Mount Zalmon and used them to burn the stronghold of the house of El-berith at Shechem. Zalmon is also mentioned in a difficult passage about snow and scattered kings.
Historical Background
The mountain was near Shechem, though its precise identification is uncertain. Suggestions include a southern part of Gerizim and a mountain echoing the modern name es-Sulemiyeh. The warrior Zalmon was an Ahohite in David’s guard.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Shady. (1.) One of David’s warriors, called the Ahohite (2 Sam. 23:28); called also Ilai (1 Chr. 11:29). (2.) A wood near Shechem, from which Abimelech and his party brought boughs and “put them to the hold” of Shechem, “and set the hold on fire” (Judg. 9:48). Probably the southern peak of Gerizim, now called Jebel Sulman. (See SALMON.)
Smith's Bible Dictionary
(shady), an Ahohite one of David’s guard. (2 Samuel 23:28)
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>zal'-mon (tsalmon; Selmon, oros Ermon; the King James Version Salmon (Ps 68:14)):</p><p>(1) From the slopes of Mt. Zalmon, Abimelech and his followers gathered the wood with which they burned down "the stronghold of the house of El-berith," which may have been the citadel of Shechem (Jud 9:46). The mountain therefore was not far from the city; but no name resembling this has yet been recovered in Mt. Ephraim. It is just possible that in the modern Arabic name of Mt. Ebal, es-Sulemiyeh, there may be an echo of Zalmon. It is precisely to this mountain, especially to the western slopes, that one would expect Abimelech and his people to go for the purpose in view. The name occurs again in Ps 68:14, a passage of admitted difficulty. Snow in Palestine is mainly associated with Mt. Hermon, where it may be seen nearly all the year round; hence, doubtless the Greek reading "Mt. Hermon" in Judges. But snow is well known among the uplands in winter; and the Psalmist may simply have meant that the kings were scattered like snowflakes in the wind on Mt. Zalmon. We need not therefore look to Bashan or elsewhere for the mountain. The locality is fixed by the narrative in Jgs.</p><p>(2) One of David's heroes (2Sa 23:28).</p><p>See ILAI.</p><p>W. Ewing</p>