A town located in the Negev, at the southern border of Judah; used especially in combination with Dan at the northern border of Israel to refer to all Israel.
About Beersheba (in the Negev)
Beersheba is the name used in the Bible for the southernmost part of the Promised Land. It is located 45.1 kilometers (28 miles) southwest of Hebron. It was an important place in the Negev desert early on. Hagar wandered here with Ishmael, and Abraham also spent time here. Later, both Isaac (Genesis 26:23) and Jacob (46:1) had meaningful spiritual experiences in this area. It remained an important location for many other Hebrews in later times.
During the time of the Hebrew monarchy, Beersheba was located at Tell Beersheba, which is 3.2 kilometers (two miles) northeast of the modern city. Recent archaeological digs show that the Hebrews built the city in the 12th or 11th century BC. It was likely where Samuel's sons served as judges for the people (1 Samuel 8:2).
Key References
So that place was called Beersheba, because it was there that the two of them swore an oath.
All Scripture References (33)
Genesis (10)
Early in the morning, Abraham got up, took bread and a skin of water, put them on Hagar’s shoulders, and sent her away with the boy. She left and wandered in the Wilderness of Beersheba.
So that place was called Beersheba, because it was there that the two of them swore an oath.
After they had made the covenant at Beersheba, Abimelech and Phicol the commander of his army got up and returned to the land of the Philistines.
And Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there he called upon the name of the LORD, the Eternal God.
Abraham went back to his servants, and they got up and set out together for Beersheba. And Abraham settled in Beersheba.
From there Isaac went up to Beersheba,
So he called it Shibah, and to this day the name of the city is Beersheba.
Meanwhile Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Haran.
So Israel set out with all that he had, and when he came to Beersheba, he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac.
Then Jacob departed from Beersheba, and the sons of Israel took their father Jacob in the wagons Pharaoh had sent to carry him, along with their children and wives.
Joshua (2)
Hazar-shual, Beersheba, Biziothiah,
and included Beersheba (or Sheba), Moladah,
Judges (1)
Then all the Israelites from Dan to Beersheba and from the land of Gilead came out, and the congregation assembled as one man before the LORD at Mizpah.
1 Samuel (2)
So all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was confirmed as a prophet of the LORD.
The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second was Abijah. They were judges in Beersheba.
2 Samuel (5)
to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and to establish the throne of David over Israel and Judah, from Dan to Beersheba.”
Instead, I advise that all Israel from Dan to Beersheba—a multitude like the sand on the seashore—be gathered to you, and that you yourself lead them into battle.
So the king said to Joab the commander of his army, who was with him, “Go now throughout the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beersheba and register the troops, so that I may know their number.”
They went toward the fortress of Tyre and all the cities of the Hivites and Canaanites. Finally, they went on to the Negev of Judah, to Beersheba.
So the LORD sent a plague upon Israel from that morning until the appointed time, and seventy thousand of the people from Dan to Beersheba died.
1 Kings (2)
So behold, I plan to build a house for the Name of the LORD my God, according to what the LORD said to my father David: ‘I will put your son on your throne in your place, and he will build the house for My Name.’
And Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there,
2 Kings (2)
And Joash did what was right in the eyes of the LORD all the days he was instructed by Jehoiada the priest.
Then Josiah brought all the priests from the cities of Judah and desecrated the high places, from Geba to Beersheba, where the priests had burned incense. He tore down the high places of the gates at the entrance of the gate of Joshua the governor of the city, which was to the left of the city gate.
1 Chronicles (2)
They lived in Beersheba, Moladah, Hazar-shual,
So David said to Joab and the commanders of the troops, “Go and count the Israelites from Beersheba to Dan and bring me a report, so that I may know their number.”
2 Chronicles (3)
Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem, and once again he went out among the people from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim and turned them back to the LORD, the God of their fathers.
Joash was seven years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem forty years. His mother’s name was Zibiah; she was from Beersheba.
So they established a decree to circulate a proclamation throughout Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, that the people should come to keep the Passover of the LORD, the God of Israel, in Jerusalem. For they had not observed it in great numbers as prescribed.
Nehemiah (2)
in Hazar-shual; in Beersheba and its villages;
Zanoah, Adullam, and their villages; in Lachish and its fields; and in Azekah and its villages. So they settled from Beersheba all the way to the Valley of Hinnom.
Amos (2)
Do not seek Bethel or go to Gilgal; do not journey to Beersheba, for Gilgal will surely go into exile, and Bethel will come to nothing.
Those who swear by the guilt of Samaria and say, ‘As surely as your god lives, O Dan,’ or, ‘As surely as the way of Beersheba lives’—they will fall, never to rise again.”