Zeboim appears as both a location in Benjamin's territory and possibly as a descriptive name meaning 'hyenas.' The Valley of Zeboim is mentioned during Saul's conflict with the Philistines as one of the directions their raiding parties took. Later, Nehemiah lists Zeboim among the towns resettled after the exile. The name likely derives from the Hebrew word for hyenas, suggesting this valley or region was known as a habitat for these scavengers, perhaps the rugged Wadi el-Kelt between Jerusalem and Jericho.