The municipality of Kherbet Selem is located in the Kaza of Bint Jbeil, one of the eight mohafazats (governorates) of Lebanon.

In 1875 Victor Guérin described it: "In the middle of a deep and broad ravine the Wady el-Hadjr, a sort of rocky islet lying north and south.

"[3] He further noted: "Here are found the remains of an ancient church, such as cut stones, shafts more or less broken, and a circular baptismal font.

Here I also saw several Greek crosses engraved on lintels of doors, cisterns, presses cut in the rock, and even some houses still standing which may be older than the Mussulman invasion.

"[4] In 1881, the PEF's Survey of Western Palestine (SWP) described it: "A village, built of stone, containing 200 Metawileh, on ridge, with spring and cisterns ; arable cultivation around.