{"id":89370,"date":"2026-01-30T06:00:42","date_gmt":"2026-01-30T11:00:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/?p=89370"},"modified":"2026-01-30T08:48:01","modified_gmt":"2026-01-30T13:48:01","slug":"what-is-the-negev","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/biblical-sites-places\/what-is-the-negev\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is the Negev?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"attachment_89374\" style=\"width: 410px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/biblical-sites-places\/what-is-the-negev\/attachment\/viewing-the-negev-through-an-archway-at-avdat-in-the-central-negev-courtesy-nathan-steinmeyer\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-89374\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-89374\" class=\"wp-image-89374 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2025\/01\/Viewing-the-Negev-through-an-archway-at-Avdat-in-the-central-Negev.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-300x225.jpg.avif\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2025\/01\/Viewing-the-Negev-through-an-archway-at-Avdat-in-the-central-Negev.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-300x225.jpg.avif 300w, https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2025\/01\/Viewing-the-Negev-through-an-archway-at-Avdat-in-the-central-Negev.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-1024x768.jpg.avif 1024w, https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2025\/01\/Viewing-the-Negev-through-an-archway-at-Avdat-in-the-central-Negev.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-768x576.jpg.avif 768w, https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2025\/01\/Viewing-the-Negev-through-an-archway-at-Avdat-in-the-central-Negev.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-1536x1152.jpg.avif 1536w, https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Viewing-the-Negev-through-an-archway-at-Avdat-in-the-central-Negev.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer.jpg 2048w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 400px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 400\/300;\" data-original-sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" data-smush-avif-fallback=\"{&quot;data-src&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/01\\\/Viewing-the-Negev-through-an-archway-at-Avdat-in-the-central-Negev.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-300x225.jpg&quot;,&quot;data-srcset&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/01\\\/Viewing-the-Negev-through-an-archway-at-Avdat-in-the-central-Negev.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/01\\\/Viewing-the-Negev-through-an-archway-at-Avdat-in-the-central-Negev.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/01\\\/Viewing-the-Negev-through-an-archway-at-Avdat-in-the-central-Negev.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/01\\\/Viewing-the-Negev-through-an-archway-at-Avdat-in-the-central-Negev.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/01\\\/Viewing-the-Negev-through-an-archway-at-Avdat-in-the-central-Negev.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer.jpg 2048w&quot;}\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-89374\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Viewing the Negev through an archway at Avdat in the central Negev. <em>Courtesy Nathan Steinmeyer, BAS. <\/em><\/p><\/div>\n<p>Although not as central to the biblical narrative as areas like the Galilee or the Judean Highlands, the Negev Desert was nevertheless a region of great importance in the history of ancient Israel, Judah, and the Levant. Home to the biblical patriarchs, and a stronghold for the kingdom of Judah, the Negev Desert boasts a rich history related to agriculture, mining, and trade.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n\n\t\t<div id=\"mailing_list_ebook_page\">\n\n\t\t\t<div class='gravity_form_mailing_list'>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"downloadFormSec esolshortwrap\">\t\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-md-3 col-sm-3 mb-4 mb-md-0\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img data-src='https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/the-galilee-jesus-knew.jpg' class='esolsetnewimg smush-dimensions lazyload' width='200' style='--smush-image-width: 200px; --smush-image-aspect-ratio: 200\/259;' src='data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg=='>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-md-9 col-sm-9\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-sm-12\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>FREE ebook: <strong>The Galilee Jesus Knew<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n\/* <![CDATA[ *\/\nvar gform;gform||(document.addEventListener(\"gform_main_scripts_loaded\",function(){gform.scriptsLoaded=!0}),document.addEventListener(\"gform\/theme\/scripts_loaded\",function(){gform.themeScriptsLoaded=!0}),window.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",function(){gform.domLoaded=!0}),gform={domLoaded:!1,scriptsLoaded:!1,themeScriptsLoaded:!1,isFormEditor:()=>\"function\"==typeof InitializeEditor,callIfLoaded:function(o){return!(!gform.domLoaded||!gform.scriptsLoaded||!gform.themeScriptsLoaded&&!gform.isFormEditor()||(gform.isFormEditor()&&console.warn(\"The use of gform.initializeOnLoaded() is deprecated in the form editor context and will be removed in Gravity Forms 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*\/\n<\/script>\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\n\t\t<!-- download link -->\n\t\t\n\t\t<div id=\"eBook_download_link\" name=\"eBook_download_link\">\n\n\t\t\t<button onclick=\"location.href='https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/the_galilee_jesus_knew.pdf'\">DOWNLOAD EBOOK<\/button>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<hr \/>\n<h4>A Desert of Biblical Proportions<\/h4>\n<p>Encompassing over half of modern Israel, the Negev is an arid and semi-arid rocky desert between central Israel and the Gulf of Aqaba. Moving from the north to the south, the climate becomes progressively dryer, with its northern reaches enjoying a Mediterranean climate, while its eastern and southern regions receive less than 4 inches of rain per year.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_89375\" style=\"width: 410px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/biblical-sites-places\/what-is-the-negev\/attachment\/the-negev-terain-near-sde-boker-central-negev-courtesy-nathan-steinmeyer\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-89375\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-89375\" class=\"wp-image-89375 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2025\/01\/The-Negev-terain-near-Sde-Boker-central-Negev.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-300x225.jpg.avif\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2025\/01\/The-Negev-terain-near-Sde-Boker-central-Negev.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-300x225.jpg.avif 300w, https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2025\/01\/The-Negev-terain-near-Sde-Boker-central-Negev.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-1024x768.jpg.avif 1024w, https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2025\/01\/The-Negev-terain-near-Sde-Boker-central-Negev.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-768x576.jpg.avif 768w, https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2025\/01\/The-Negev-terain-near-Sde-Boker-central-Negev.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-1536x1152.jpg.avif 1536w, https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/The-Negev-terain-near-Sde-Boker-central-Negev.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer.jpg 2048w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 400px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 400\/300;\" data-original-sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" data-smush-avif-fallback=\"{&quot;data-src&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/01\\\/The-Negev-terain-near-Sde-Boker-central-Negev.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-300x225.jpg&quot;,&quot;data-srcset&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/01\\\/The-Negev-terain-near-Sde-Boker-central-Negev.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/01\\\/The-Negev-terain-near-Sde-Boker-central-Negev.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/01\\\/The-Negev-terain-near-Sde-Boker-central-Negev.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/01\\\/The-Negev-terain-near-Sde-Boker-central-Negev.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/01\\\/The-Negev-terain-near-Sde-Boker-central-Negev.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer.jpg 2048w&quot;}\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-89375\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Negev terrain near Sde Boker, central Negev. <em>Courtesy Nathan Steinmeyer, BAS. <\/em><\/p><\/div>\n<p>The biblical Negev, however, only encompassed the northern parts of the region and included sites like Arad, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/biblical-sites-places\/tel-beer-sheva-city-of-the-patriarchs\/\">Beer-Sheva<\/a>, and probably <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/biblical-sites-places\/biblical-archaeology-places\/wilderness-wanderings-where-is-kadesh\/\">Kadesh-Barnea<\/a>. Beer-Sheva was the region\u2019s chief city in biblical times and was home to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It was there that Abraham formed a covenant with King Abimelech (Genesis 21:32) and where both Isaac and Jacob spoke to God (Genesis 26:23\u201324; 46:1\u20134). Later, it was into the Negev Desert that Moses sent the 12 spies. During the time of the Judahite monarchy (tenth\u2013sixth centuries BCE), the Negev boasted numerous <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/biblical-sites-places\/from-judah-to-edom\/\">defensive outposts<\/a> to guard against encroaching enemies from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/inscribed-moabite-altar-mentions-biblical-rebellion\/\">Moab<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/evidence-of-elusive-edom\/\">Edom<\/a>. The Negev was also home to significant mining operations, including the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/ancient-cultures\/ancient-israel\/timna-mines-collapse\/\">mines of Timna<\/a>, which are some of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/ancient-cultures\/ancient-israel\/how-to-smelt-chalcolithic-copper\/\">oldest copper mines<\/a> in the world.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_89376\" style=\"width: 410px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/biblical-sites-places\/what-is-the-negev\/attachment\/lonely-acacia-tree-in-a-small-wadi-in-the-timna-valley-courtesy-nathan-steinmeyer\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-89376\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-89376\" class=\"wp-image-89376 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2025\/01\/Lonely-acacia-tree-in-a-small-wadi-in-the-Timna-Valley.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-300x225.jpg.avif\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2025\/01\/Lonely-acacia-tree-in-a-small-wadi-in-the-Timna-Valley.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-300x225.jpg.avif 300w, https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2025\/01\/Lonely-acacia-tree-in-a-small-wadi-in-the-Timna-Valley.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-1024x768.jpg.avif 1024w, https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2025\/01\/Lonely-acacia-tree-in-a-small-wadi-in-the-Timna-Valley.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-768x576.jpg.avif 768w, https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2025\/01\/Lonely-acacia-tree-in-a-small-wadi-in-the-Timna-Valley.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-1536x1152.jpg.avif 1536w, https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Lonely-acacia-tree-in-a-small-wadi-in-the-Timna-Valley.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer.jpg 2048w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 400px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 400\/300;\" data-original-sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" data-smush-avif-fallback=\"{&quot;data-src&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/01\\\/Lonely-acacia-tree-in-a-small-wadi-in-the-Timna-Valley.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-300x225.jpg&quot;,&quot;data-srcset&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/01\\\/Lonely-acacia-tree-in-a-small-wadi-in-the-Timna-Valley.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/01\\\/Lonely-acacia-tree-in-a-small-wadi-in-the-Timna-Valley.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/01\\\/Lonely-acacia-tree-in-a-small-wadi-in-the-Timna-Valley.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/01\\\/Lonely-acacia-tree-in-a-small-wadi-in-the-Timna-Valley.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/01\\\/Lonely-acacia-tree-in-a-small-wadi-in-the-Timna-Valley.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer.jpg 2048w&quot;}\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-89376\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Lonely acacia tree in a small wadi in the Timna Valley. <em>Courtesy Nathan Steinmeyer, BAS. <\/em><\/p><\/div>\n<p>A little smaller than the state of Connecticut, the Negev consists of low, rocky mountains interrupted by seasonal streambeds (wadis) and deep craters. While the northern Negev includes some shrubland, the majority of the Negev is speckled by lonely acacia and pistachio trees, as well as the occasional shrub.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_89377\" style=\"width: 410px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/biblical-sites-places\/what-is-the-negev\/attachment\/large-male-ibex-resting-in-the-timna-valley-courtesy-nathan-steinmeyer\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-89377\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-89377\" class=\"wp-image-89377 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2025\/01\/Large-male-Ibex-resting-in-the-Timna-Valley.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-300x225.jpg.avif\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2025\/01\/Large-male-Ibex-resting-in-the-Timna-Valley.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-300x225.jpg.avif 300w, https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2025\/01\/Large-male-Ibex-resting-in-the-Timna-Valley.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-1024x768.jpg.avif 1024w, https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2025\/01\/Large-male-Ibex-resting-in-the-Timna-Valley.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-768x576.jpg.avif 768w, https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2025\/01\/Large-male-Ibex-resting-in-the-Timna-Valley.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-1536x1152.jpg.avif 1536w, https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Large-male-Ibex-resting-in-the-Timna-Valley.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer.jpg 2048w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 400px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 400\/300;\" data-original-sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" data-smush-avif-fallback=\"{&quot;data-src&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/01\\\/Large-male-Ibex-resting-in-the-Timna-Valley.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-300x225.jpg&quot;,&quot;data-srcset&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/01\\\/Large-male-Ibex-resting-in-the-Timna-Valley.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/01\\\/Large-male-Ibex-resting-in-the-Timna-Valley.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/01\\\/Large-male-Ibex-resting-in-the-Timna-Valley.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/01\\\/Large-male-Ibex-resting-in-the-Timna-Valley.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/01\\\/Large-male-Ibex-resting-in-the-Timna-Valley.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer.jpg 2048w&quot;}\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-89377\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Large male Ibex resting in the Timna Valley. <em>Courtesy Nathan Steinmeyer, BAS. <\/em><\/p><\/div>\n<p>Wandering the desert are gazelles, ibexes, oryxes, hyenas, wolves, jackals, and even hedgehogs. In antiquity, the region was also home to a large number of Arabian and Asiatic animals, including <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/ancient-cultures\/ancient-israel\/ancient-ostrich-eggs-over-easy\/\">ostriches<\/a>, lions, and cheetahs. Until only a few years ago, leopards could still be found in the region.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_89379\" style=\"width: 410px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/biblical-sites-places\/what-is-the-negev\/attachment\/byzantine-church-at-the-site-of-avdat-in-the-central-negev-courtesy-nathan-steinmeyer\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-89379\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-89379\" class=\"wp-image-89379 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2025\/01\/Byzantine-church-at-the-site-of-Avdat-in-the-central-Negev.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-300x225.jpg.avif\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2025\/01\/Byzantine-church-at-the-site-of-Avdat-in-the-central-Negev.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-300x225.jpg.avif 300w, https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2025\/01\/Byzantine-church-at-the-site-of-Avdat-in-the-central-Negev.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-1024x768.jpg.avif 1024w, https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2025\/01\/Byzantine-church-at-the-site-of-Avdat-in-the-central-Negev.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-768x576.jpg.avif 768w, https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2025\/01\/Byzantine-church-at-the-site-of-Avdat-in-the-central-Negev.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-1536x1152.jpg.avif 1536w, https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Byzantine-church-at-the-site-of-Avdat-in-the-central-Negev.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer.jpg 2048w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 400px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 400\/300;\" data-original-sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" data-smush-avif-fallback=\"{&quot;data-src&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/01\\\/Byzantine-church-at-the-site-of-Avdat-in-the-central-Negev.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-300x225.jpg&quot;,&quot;data-srcset&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/01\\\/Byzantine-church-at-the-site-of-Avdat-in-the-central-Negev.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/01\\\/Byzantine-church-at-the-site-of-Avdat-in-the-central-Negev.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/01\\\/Byzantine-church-at-the-site-of-Avdat-in-the-central-Negev.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/01\\\/Byzantine-church-at-the-site-of-Avdat-in-the-central-Negev.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/01\\\/Byzantine-church-at-the-site-of-Avdat-in-the-central-Negev.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer.jpg 2048w&quot;}\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-89379\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Byzantine church at the site of Avdat in the central Negev. <em> Courtesy Nathan Steinmeyer, BAS. <\/em><\/p><\/div>\n<p>The Negev has historically been an important trade route from the Mediterranean to the Arabian Peninsula and the copper mines in the southern Negev and Wadi Aravah. The region flourished at various times due to these trade routes, with the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/ancient-cultures\/ancient-near-eastern-world\/solving-the-enigma-of-petra-and-the-nabataeans\/\">Nabatean kingdom of Petra<\/a> especially developing many sites within the region. The area continued to flourish in the Roman, Byzantine, and early Islamic periods (c. 37 BCE\u20131099 CE), as new agricultural and water harvesting methods were developed, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/ancient-cultures\/ancient-israel\/rural-mosque-in-the-negev\/\">allowing larger populations<\/a> to sustain themselves in the desert\u2019s harsh conditions. Since the medieval period, the area has continued to be inhabited and developed to varying levels.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_89381\" style=\"width: 410px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/biblical-sites-places\/what-is-the-negev\/attachment\/negev-map\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-89381\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-89381\" class=\"wp-image-89381 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2025\/02\/Negev-Map-253x300.png.avif\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"475\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2025\/02\/Negev-Map-253x300.png.avif 253w, https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2025\/02\/Negev-Map-863x1024.png.avif 863w, https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2025\/02\/Negev-Map-768x911.png.avif 768w, https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2025\/02\/Negev-Map-1295x1536.png.avif 1295w, https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2025\/02\/Negev-Map-1726x2048.png.avif 1726w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 400px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 400\/475;\" data-original-sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" data-smush-avif-fallback=\"{&quot;data-src&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/02\\\/Negev-Map-253x300.png&quot;,&quot;data-srcset&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/02\\\/Negev-Map-253x300.png 253w, https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/02\\\/Negev-Map-863x1024.png 863w, https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/02\\\/Negev-Map-768x911.png 768w, https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/02\\\/Negev-Map-1295x1536.png 1295w, https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/02\\\/Negev-Map-1726x2048.png 1726w&quot;}\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-89381\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Map of the Negev Desert. <em> BAS. <\/em><\/p><\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<p><small><em>This article was first published in Bible History Daily on February 3, 2025.<\/em><\/small><\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<h4 style=\"margin-bottom:1em;\">Related reading in\u00a0<em>Bible History Daily<\/em><\/h4>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"Ahgu4OV1l1\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/ancient-cultures\/ancient-israel\/rural-mosque-in-the-negev\/\">From Christianity to Islam in the Negev<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;From Christianity to Islam in the Negev&#8221; &#8212; Biblical Archaeology Society\" src=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/ancient-cultures\/ancient-israel\/rural-mosque-in-the-negev\/embed\/#?secret=O2ejVwEk5D#?secret=Ahgu4OV1l1\" data-secret=\"Ahgu4OV1l1\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"yN5SdpulJ0\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/biblical-sites-places\/tel-beer-sheva-city-of-the-patriarchs\/\">Tel Be\u2019er Sheva, City of the Patriarchs\u00a0<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;Tel Be\u2019er Sheva, City of the Patriarchs\u00a0&#8221; &#8212; Biblical Archaeology Society\" src=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/biblical-sites-places\/tel-beer-sheva-city-of-the-patriarchs\/embed\/#?secret=Lh3dnG4Rm6#?secret=yN5SdpulJ0\" data-secret=\"yN5SdpulJ0\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"Fd0kujPg8g\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/news\/exploring-the-grand-canyon-of-israel\/\">Exploring the \u201cGrand Canyon\u201d of Israel<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;Exploring the \u201cGrand Canyon\u201d of Israel&#8221; &#8212; Biblical Archaeology Society\" src=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/news\/exploring-the-grand-canyon-of-israel\/embed\/#?secret=HTxP9QBjtu#?secret=Fd0kujPg8g\" data-secret=\"Fd0kujPg8g\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h4 style=\"margin:2em 0;\">All-Access members, read more in the\u00a0<em>BAS Library:<\/em><\/h4>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"udEd45rNUe\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/library.biblicalarchaeology.org\/article\/understanding-the-nabateans\/\">Understanding the Nabateans<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;Understanding the Nabateans&#8221; &#8212; The BAS Library\" src=\"https:\/\/library.biblicalarchaeology.org\/article\/understanding-the-nabateans\/embed\/#?secret=FfaZxwhg44#?secret=udEd45rNUe\" data-secret=\"udEd45rNUe\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"4aDkClW1MT\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/library.biblicalarchaeology.org\/article\/rescue-in-the-biblical-negev\/\">Rescue in the Biblical Negev<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;Rescue in the Biblical Negev&#8221; &#8212; The BAS Library\" src=\"https:\/\/library.biblicalarchaeology.org\/article\/rescue-in-the-biblical-negev\/embed\/#?secret=UBhbwSFJrC#?secret=4aDkClW1MT\" data-secret=\"4aDkClW1MT\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"k7tkSuXiN7\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/library.biblicalarchaeology.org\/article\/solomons-negev-defense-line-contained-three-fewer-fortresses\/\">Solomon\u2019s Negev Defense Line Contained Three Fewer Fortresses<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;Solomon\u2019s Negev Defense Line Contained Three Fewer Fortresses&#8221; &#8212; The BAS Library\" src=\"https:\/\/library.biblicalarchaeology.org\/article\/solomons-negev-defense-line-contained-three-fewer-fortresses\/embed\/#?secret=Ultl8wxOR4#?secret=k7tkSuXiN7\" data-secret=\"k7tkSuXiN7\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<div style=\"margin:2em 0;\">\n<p><strong>Not a <em>BAS<\/em> Library or All-Access Member yet? <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/subscribe-new\/?utm_term=W26009B0\">Join today.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Although not as central to the biblical narrative as areas like the Galilee or the Judean Highlands, the Negev Desert was nevertheless a region of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":55,"featured_media":89389,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[376,369],"tags":[2527,22216,16968,22988,17038,21652],"class_list":["post-89370","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ancient-israel","category-biblical-sites-places","tag-biblical-places","tag-desert","tag-israel","tag-nature","tag-negev","tag-negev-desert"],"acf":[],"nelio_content":{"autoShareEndMode":"never","automationSources":{"useCustomSentences":false,"customSentences":[]},"efiAlt":"","efiUrl":"","followers":[55],"highlights":[],"isAutoShareEnabled":true,"networkImageIds":[],"permalinkQueryArgs":[],"series":[],"suggestedReferences":[]},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.0 (Yoast SEO v27.1.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>What Is the Negev? - Biblical Archaeology Society<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The Negev Desert was a region of great importance in ancient Israel, Judah, and the Levant. 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