Rehoboth
Rehoboth is a location mentioned in the Old Testament, located in the region of Negev in modern-day Israel. Known today as Ruheibeh. It appears across 1 verse in Scripture.
Biblical History
Rehoboth in the Negev is associated with the genealogy of the Edomite kings in Genesis 36. The city is mentioned as the home of Shaul, one of the early kings who reigned in Edom before any king ruled over Israel (Genesis 36:37; 1 Chronicles 1:48). The text specifies that Shaul came from 'Rehoboth on the River,' which has led to scholarly discussion about whether 'the River' refers to the Euphrates or a local watercourse. In the Negev context, it likely refers to a wadi or seasonal river in the arid southern region. The mention of Rehoboth in the Edomite king list places it within the broader narrative of Genesis that traces the descendants of Esau and their establishment as a political entity in the lands south and east of Canaan. This genealogical record serves the theological purpose of showing that God's providential care extended beyond the chosen line of Jacob, fulfilling the promise that Esau too would become a great nation (Genesis 27:39-40).
Archaeological & Historical Notes
Rehoboth in the Negev is commonly identified with Khirbet Ruheibeh, an extensive ruin site in the central Negev desert of modern Israel. Archaeological excavations have revealed remains primarily from the Byzantine period, including churches, a large caravanserai, and agricultural installations. Earlier occupation levels from the Iron Age and Nabataean periods have also been detected, though less extensively preserved. The site sits along an ancient road connecting Beersheba to the southern desert routes. The presence of sophisticated water collection systems, including cisterns and channels, demonstrates how ancient inhabitants adapted to the arid environment. The Negev Highlands survey projects have documented the site as part of a broader network of desert settlements.
Verse Appearances (1)
Gen
References
- Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
- OpenBible.info (n.d.) Bible Geocoding. Available at: https://www.openbible.info/geo/. [CC BY 4.0]
- Bagnall, R. et al. (eds.) (n.d.) Pleiades: A Gazetteer of Past Places. Available at: https://pleiades.stoa.org. [CC BY 3.0]
- Wikidata contributors (n.d.) Wikidata. Available at: https://www.wikidata.org. [CC0]
- Lawrence, D. et al. (2025) Villages to Empires: a settlement dataset for the Southern Levant. doi:10.5281/zenodo.15111732. [CC BY 4.0]
- Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]