Aerial view. The distance between Dan and Beer-Sheva mark the northern and southern limits of the Holy land.
Blessed with abundant springs Beer Sheva is at the edge of cultivated land and the Negev. It was a natural point of convergence for caravans en-route from the desert to markets further north.
A tradition claims that Abraham founded the town. Gen 21:33 says that Abraham planted a tamarisk there.
Well and tamarisk tree. It was at Beer Sheva that Yahweh appeared to Isaac: …he went up to Beer-Sheva. And that very night the Lord appeared to him and said, "I am the God of your father Abraham; do not be afraid, for I am with you and will bless you and make your offspring numerous for my servant Abraham's sake." So he built an altar there, called on the name of the Lord, and pitched his tent there. And there Isaac's servants dug a well. Gen. 26:23-25
A Four Horned altar
At Beer Sheva Jacob offered a sacrifice to the God of his father Isaac. “So Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beer-Sheva, and offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. And God spoke to Israel in visions of the night, and said, "Jacob, Jacob." And he said, "Here am I." Then he said, "I am God, the God of your father; do not be afraid to go down to Egypt; for I will there make of you a great nation. I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you up again; and Joseph's hand shall close your eyes." 46:1-4
Looking north into the Negev
