Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there he called upon the name of the LORD, the Eternal God.
Genesis 21:33
We turned south, leaving the Shephelah and Coastal Plain behind us. It is obvious that less and less rain falls the farther south you go. The plants became smaller, sparser, and browner. We entered the Biblical Negev. While the modern Negev region covers the whole of the south of the country, in Biblical times it was a small region, forming the southern extreme of the ancient nation.
At the center is the site of Beersheba, located where two wadis meet. Given the time of year of our visit (late May), water was still flowing in one. Abraham was here before a city was built. Most of the remains are from the Iron Age (period of the kings of Israel). It is on the edge of arable land, with about a 50% chance of receiving enough rain for a crop of barley. What makes it a fun site to visit is how extensively they excavated the site, providing a snapshot of life from the Israelite monarchy. From normal dwellings to administrative builds, to storehouses, and a water system, there’s a lot to see here.
