Original Word: שָׁרוּחֶן
Part of Speech: Proper Name Location
Transliteration: Sharuwchen
Pronunciation: shah-roo-KHEN
Phonetic Spelling: (shaw-roo-khen')
KJV: Sharuhen
NASB: Sharuhen
Word Origin: [probably from H8281 (שָׁרָה - lets it loose) (in the sense of dwelling) and H2580 (חֵן - favor)]

1. abode of pleasure
2. Sharuchen, a place in Israel

Sharuhen

Probably from sharah (in the sense of dwelling (compare shre') and chen; abode of pleasure; Sharuchen, a place in Palestine -- Sharuhen.

see HEBREW sharah

see HEBREW shre'

see HEBREW chen

Word Origin
probably from the same as shiryon and from chen
Definition
a city in Simeon
NASB Translation
Sharuhen (1).

שָׁרוּחֶ֑ן proper name, of a location in Simeon; — Joshua 19:6 (ᵐ5οἱ ἀγροὶ αὐτῶν, ? reading שְׂדֵיהֶן); WMM^{As.u.Eur.161,168} identified with Egyptian Ša-r(a)-µa-na.

Geographic Setting

Sharuhen lay in the semi-arid southern lowlands of ancient Canaan, on the western side of the Negev and not far from the coastal plain of Philistia. Its situation on the principal north–south route between Egypt and the heartland of Israel made it strategically valuable both for trade and for military movements. Many scholars locate the site at modern Tell el-Farah (south), roughly twenty-five miles south-west of Beersheba, where excavations have revealed a strongly fortified Bronze-Age city surrounded by a three-part earthen rampart.

Biblical Context and Tribal Inheritance

The sole biblical mention appears in Joshua 19:6, where Sharuhen marks the southern boundary of the patrimony allotted to the tribe of Simeon: “Beth-lebaoth, and Sharuhen—thirteen cities with their villages”. By including Sharuhen among the thirteen settlements, Scripture underscores several covenant themes:

• Covenant Fulfillment – The land-grant fulfills the promise first made to Abraham (Genesis 15:18-21) and later reiterated under Moses (Deuteronomy 34:4), testifying to the constancy of the Lord’s word.
• Tribal Integration – Though the Simeonites were eventually absorbed into Judah, their cities—including Sharuhen—illustrate the unity yet diversity of the tribes within the broader inheritance of Israel.
• Territorial Balance – Sharuhen’s position on the south-western rim provided Simeon (and by extension Judah) a shield against Philistine expansion and Egyptian influence, embodying the Lord’s protective care for His people.

Historical and Archaeological Insights

Extra-biblical records amplify the site’s importance. New Kingdom Egyptian annals of Pharaohs Thutmose III and Amenhotep II mention a stronghold called šʾrḥn or šrwḥn that withstood a lengthy siege during the Hyksos expulsion. The correlation of name, locale, and fortification style points to Biblical Sharuhen. Excavated strata reveal destruction layers from the Late Bronze Age followed by sparse Iron Age occupation, consistent with the shifting fortunes of Simeon and the rise of neighboring Philistine city-states such as Gaza and Ashkelon.

These findings cohere with the conquest narrative: while Joshua designated the region to Israel, full possession unfolded gradually, as later Judges and Kings attest (Judges 1:17; 1 Chronicles 4:29-31). The ebb and flow of control at Sharuhen thus mirrors Israel’s broader conflict between covenant obedience and compromise.

Theological and Ministry Implications

1. Divine Faithfulness in Detail — The inclusion of even a small settlement like Sharuhen in the inspired record affirms that God’s promises extend to every promised border and every family within the covenant community.
2. Strategic Stewardship — Sharuhen’s frontier location reminds believers that their God-given callings often occupy contested spaces where vigilance, courage, and reliance on the Lord are indispensable.
3. Memory and Identity — For Simeon, Sharuhen served as a tangible marker of inheritance. In ministry today, commemorating God’s past provisions—geographical or otherwise—builds confidence for present obedience.

Lessons for Today

• Stand firm in entrusted territory. Whether physical, relational, or vocational, every sphere assigned by God demands faithful occupancy (Colossians 3:23-24).
• Recognize the value of seemingly peripheral places. The Lord uses small towns like Sharuhen as part of His grand redemptive mosaic (1 Corinthians 1:27-29).
• Trust the unchanging character of God. Just as the tribal allotments were honored, so every promise in Christ is “Yes” and “Amen” (2 Corinthians 1:20).

וְשָֽׁרוּחֶ֑ן ושרוחן vesharuChen wə·šā·rū·ḥen wəšārūḥenInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts