Eltolad
Eltolad is an ancient city mentioned in the Old Testament, located in the region of Judea in modern-day Israel. Known today as Tel Beer Sheva. It appears across 3 verses in Scripture.
Biblical History
Eltolad appears in Joshua 15:30 among the southernmost cities of the tribe of Judah, in the Negev district near Beersheba, and again in Joshua 19:4 among the towns allotted to the tribe of Simeon, which received its inheritance within the territory of Judah. A parallel version of the name appears in 1 Chronicles 4:29 as simply 'Tolad,' suggesting the name may have evolved over time in transmission. The city's inclusion in both Judah's and Simeon's allotments reflects the interleaved tribal geography of the southern Negev, where Simeon held enclaves within Judah's broader territory. Eltolad's association with the ancient city of Beersheba places it in one of the most historically rich regions of the Old Testament — the land of the patriarchs, where Abraham dug wells and made covenants, and where Isaac received divine confirmation of the Abrahamic promises. Though no dramatic single event is attached to Eltolad, its enduring presence in tribal records across centuries of Israelite history speaks to the continuity of settlement in this arid but habitable corner of the promised land.
Archaeological & Historical Notes
Eltolad has sometimes been associated with Tel Beer Sheva, the principal Bronze and Iron Age city of the northern Negev, though this identification remains debated among scholars who prefer other nearby sites. Tel Beer Sheva has been extensively excavated by Israeli archaeologists and revealed a well-planned Israelite city with a distinctive horned altar, storehouses, and water system dating to the Iron Age II period. UNESCO recognized Tel Beer Sheva as a World Heritage Site in 2005 as part of the 'Biblical Tels' designation. The region around Beersheba preserves extensive evidence of patriarchal-era pastoral activity and subsequent Israelite agricultural and administrative occupation.
Verse Appearances (3)
1Chr
Sources: ISBE Encyclopedia · OpenBible Geocoding (CC BY) · Pleiades Gazetteer View all →