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Beer Sheva is mentioned numerous times in the Tanakh, often as a means of describing the borders of the Land of Israel, extending from “Be’er Sheva to Dan” (see Judges 20:1-3, I Samuel 3:19-21). The name is derived from the Hebrew Be’er meaning a well, and Sheva meaning “to swear an oath.”

Tel Be’er Sheva was excavated from 1969 to 1976 by the Tel Aviv University Institute of Archaeology, directed by Prof. Yohanan Aharoni, except for the last season which was led by Prof. Ze’ev Herzog. These excavations were directed towards uncovering the Iron Age Israelite city at the site. Excavations were renewed by Prof Herzog between 1993 and 1995 in order to complete the uncovering of the town’s water system.

The site was renovated by the Israel Nature and Parks Authority in 1990. In 2003, its water system was opened to the public. The excavated town is now part of the Tel Beer Sheva National Park.

 

Images by Mboesch via WikiMedia