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Hormah - location profile

Location and Setting

Although the exact location of Hormah is not certain, the probable site lies eight miles east of Beersheba in the Wadi Beersheba.
In ancient times, Hormah was also called Zephath.
The name Hormah is derived from herem (Hebrew), a word play that can mean either "sacred" or "destruction."

Historical and Biblical Significance

When the Israelites learned that they would be forced to wander in the desert for thirty-eight more years as a result of their rebellion at Kadesh-barnea, they had a sudden change of heart. Despite Moses’ warnings, they ventured north to attack the Canaanite city of Arad. Because the Lord was not with them, they were defeated and driven back to Hormah (Num 14:39-45).
Near the end of the Israelites’ thirty-eight year period of wandering in the desert, the king of Arad heard that the Israelites were approaching. He attacked them, taking some of them captive (Num 21:1). The Israelites cried out to the Lord and He delivered the city into their hands. Israel completely destroyed the surrounding cities and renamed the area Hormah (Num 21:2-3). (This may also be the event referred to in Judges 1:17.)
When the land was divided following the Conquest, the city of Hormah was located in the territory of the tribe of Judah (Josh 15:30), but given to the tribe of Simeon (Josh 19:4).
When he returned to Ziklag after defeating the Amalekite raiders, David sent some of the spoils of the battle to the elders at Hormah. This confirms that Hormah was located in the territory of Judah (1 Sam 30:30).

Aharoni, Y. and M. Avi-Yonah. The Macmillan Bible Atlas. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company, 1993.
Barabas, S. "Hormah" The Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible. Ed. Merrill C. Tenney. 5 vols. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1976.
Lilly, J.P.U. "Hormah" The New Bible Dictionary. 2^nd ed. Ed. J.D. Douglas. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1982.