Atharim
Atharim is an ancient city mentioned in the Old Testament, located in the region of Negev in modern-day Israel. Known today as road between Kadesh-barnea and Arad. It appears across 1 verse in Scripture.
Biblical History
Atharim appears in a single verse in Numbers 21:1, in a terse account of military engagement between Israel and the Canaanite king of Arad during the wilderness wanderings. The text states that the king of Arad, who dwelt in the Negev, "heard that Israel was coming by the way of Atharim" and attacked them, taking some captive. Israel vowed to the LORD that if He delivered these Canaanites into their hands, they would devote the cities to destruction, a vow of herem. God granted the victory, the cities were destroyed, and the place was named Hormah, meaning "destruction." The term "Atharim" is translated variously: some render it as a proper place name referring to a road or settlement, while others, following the Septuagint, translate it as "the way of the spies," suggesting a route associated with the earlier reconnaissance mission of Numbers 13. The episode is significant as an early foreshadowing of the conquest, demonstrating Israel's military success when operating under divine sanction. It also introduces the theme of herem warfare that would characterize the later conquest under Joshua, underscoring that victory belonged to the LORD.
Archaeological & Historical Notes
The precise location of Atharim, if it was a distinct settlement rather than a road name, has not been definitively established. Most scholars understand it as referring to an ancient caravan or military route running through the Negev between Kadesh-barnea and Arad, two well-documented sites in the region. Tel Arad has been extensively excavated by Israeli archaeologists Yohanan Aharoni and Ruth Amiran, revealing Early Bronze Age and Iron Age strata, including a remarkable Israelite sanctuary. The surrounding Negev highlands have been systematically surveyed, yielding numerous Iron Age settlements. The route itself may correspond to ancient tracks still traceable through the Negev desert terrain.
Verse Appearances (1)
Num
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]
- Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]