Akrabbim
Akrabbim is a mountain mentioned in the Old Testament, located in the region of Negev in modern-day Israel. Known today as Ma’ale Akrabbim. It appears across 3 verses in Scripture.
Biblical History
The Ascent of Akrabbim — literally meaning 'Scorpion Pass' in Hebrew — appears in Scripture as a prominent boundary marker in the wilderness south of Canaan. Numbers 34:4 identifies it as a point on the southern boundary of the Promised Land as God defined it to Moses: 'your boundary shall turn from the south to the Ascent of Akrabbim.' Joshua 15:3 reiterates this boundary in describing the southern extent of Judah's tribal territory. In Judges 1:36, the passage of Akrabbim marks the boundary of Amorite territory, suggesting it was a recognized geographical and political frontier between different peoples in the Negev wilderness. The evocative name — scorpion pass — aptly describes the hostile, arid character of the terrain, which would have been both a natural barrier and a dangerous passage requiring considerable resolve to traverse. This inhospitable landscape shaped the Israelite experience of wilderness wandering and defined the southernmost extent of the holy land.
Archaeological & Historical Notes
The Ascent of Akrabbim is identified with Ma'ale Akrabbim (Scorpions' Pass), a dramatic mountain pass in the central Negev Highlands descending toward the Arabah valley. The pass is located in what is today the Makhtesh Ramon region of southern Israel. The ancient route through the pass, sometimes called Naqb es-Safa, was a key passage connecting the Negev plateau to the southern Arabah and the Sinai approaches. The rugged terrain — characterized by sharp limestone ridges, loose scree slopes, and extreme summer heat — supports the etymology of the name. Nabataean and Roman-period travelers also used this route, and ancient road markings and cairns have been identified along the pass. The site remains largely in its natural state within a protected nature reserve.
Verse Appearances (3)
Sources: ISBE Encyclopedia · OpenBible Geocoding (CC BY) · Pleiades Gazetteer View all →