Believer In Yeshua
Arad a Southern Border Fort of Judah
Arad is a small, seemingly isolated tel on the very edge of the presently easily fertile part of the Negev. It is 20 miles directly east of Beersheva and 15 miles west of the Dead Sea. It is physically separated from the Dead Sea by the barrier of the lower Judean Desert (more properly "wilderness") made up of the southern portion of the Hebron Hills.
Arad remained largely uninhabited for much of history after the Early Bronze Age town was deserted in circa 2,700 BCE. During the Iron Age a small fort was built ~ one of a number intended to defend the southern border. Whether this is the Arad mentioned in Numbers 21:1 & Joshua 12:14 is doubtful from the archaeological evidence. It is more likely that these references are to Tell el Milh, some 7 miles south-west of Tel Arad, where a fine Middle Bronze Age fortress has been excavated.
In Judges 1:16 we read, "The children of the Kenite, Moses 'brother- in- law, went up out of the city of palm trees with the children of Judah into the wilderness of Judah, which is in the south of Arad; and they went and lived with the people." Evidence at Tel Arad shows an open village being established here in the 11th century, which some have attributed to this Kenite occupation.
Excavations at Tel Arad have revealed an Iron Age fortress probably dating originally to the time of Solomon. Pharaoh Shishak (c.945/35 - 924/14 BCE) speaks of capturing Arad Rabbat, one of Solomon's border fortresses.
Arad is helpful for Biblical Archaeology in that it contains an early example of an Israelite temple, seemingly dedicated to YHWH. This can be seen taking up the major portion of the top right-hand quarter in the photo. Like the temple in Jerusalem it consists of an outer court, with an altar, an inner court and a Holy of Holies - all these can easily be seen in the picture.
Arad a Southern Border Fort of Judah
Arad is a small, seemingly isolated tel on the very edge of the presently easily fertile part of the Negev. It is 20 miles directly east of Beersheva and 15 miles west of the Dead Sea. It is physically separated from the Dead Sea by the barrier of the lower Judean Desert (more properly "wilderness") made up of the southern portion of the Hebron Hills.
Arad remained largely uninhabited for much of history after the Early Bronze Age town was deserted in circa 2,700 BCE. During the Iron Age a small fort was built ~ one of a number intended to defend the southern border. Whether this is the Arad mentioned in Numbers 21:1 & Joshua 12:14 is doubtful from the archaeological evidence. It is more likely that these references are to Tell el Milh, some 7 miles south-west of Tel Arad, where a fine Middle Bronze Age fortress has been excavated.
In Judges 1:16 we read, "The children of the Kenite, Moses 'brother- in- law, went up out of the city of palm trees with the children of Judah into the wilderness of Judah, which is in the south of Arad; and they went and lived with the people." Evidence at Tel Arad shows an open village being established here in the 11th century, which some have attributed to this Kenite occupation.
Excavations at Tel Arad have revealed an Iron Age fortress probably dating originally to the time of Solomon. Pharaoh Shishak (c.945/35 - 924/14 BCE) speaks of capturing Arad Rabbat, one of Solomon's border fortresses.
Arad is helpful for Biblical Archaeology in that it contains an early example of an Israelite temple, seemingly dedicated to YHWH. This can be seen taking up the major portion of the top right-hand quarter in the photo. Like the temple in Jerusalem it consists of an outer court, with an altar, an inner court and a Holy of Holies - all these can easily be seen in the picture.