Adami-nekeb
Adami-nekeb is an ancient city mentioned in the Old Testament, located in the region of Galilee in modern-day Israel. Known today as Tel Adami. It appears across 1 verse in Scripture.
Biblical History
Adami-nekeb is mentioned once in Scripture as a boundary marker in the territorial description of the tribe of Naphtali. Joshua 19:33 records that the southern border of Naphtali extended "from Heleph, from the oak in Zaanannim, and Adami-nekeb and Jabneel, as far as Lakkum, and it ended at the Jordan." The compound name — combining Adamah ("earth" or "ground") with nekeb ("pass" or "hollow") — suggests the site was associated with a notable mountain pass or gorge, likely marking a significant topographic feature along the tribal boundary. Its function as a boundary point rather than a city of settlement implies it was recognized primarily as a geographic landmark, though it may have supported a local population. The location of Adami-nekeb in the lower Galilee region placed it within a strategically important corridor connecting the Jezreel Valley to the areas north of the Sea of Galilee, a route used by armies and traders throughout biblical history. Its inclusion in the tribal allotment narrative reflects the careful surveying that accompanied Joshua's division of the land.
Archaeological & Historical Notes
Adami-nekeb is commonly identified with Tel Adami, located in the Arbel Valley of Lower Galilee, near the modern Israeli kibbutz of Kefar HaNasi. Some scholars associate it with Khirbet et-Tell near the descent from the Arbel cliffs, a location that aligns well with the sense of "pass" embedded in the place name. The Arbel pass is a significant natural corridor through the Galilean hills, lending geographic credibility to the identification. Surface surveys have yielded Iron Age and Bronze Age pottery. The site has not been subject to major systematic excavation, leaving much about its ancient character unconfirmed.
Verse Appearances (1)
Josh
Sources: ISBE Encyclopedia · OpenBible Geocoding (CC BY) · Pleiades Gazetteer View all →