Haradah
Haradah is a location mentioned in the Old Testament, located in the region of Negev in modern-day Israel. Known today as Wadi Lussan. It appears across 2 verses in Scripture.
Biblical History
Haradah was one of the wilderness encampment stations of the Israelites during their forty years of wandering following the Exodus from Egypt. It appears in the itinerary preserved in Numbers 33:24-25: 'They set out from Mount Shepher and camped at Haradah. They set out from Haradah and camped at Makheloth.' This stop occurred during the extended desert sojourn in the Sinai and Negev regions, part of the long journey from Egypt toward the promised land of Canaan. The name Haradah derives from a Hebrew root suggesting trembling or fear, possibly evoking the awe-inspiring experience of divine encounter in the wilderness or the terror of the harsh desert environment. The wilderness wanderings recorded in Numbers 33 represent one of the most remarkable journeys in human history — a nation formed, disciplined, and sustained by God through forty years in a barren landscape. Each encampment, including Haradah, was a testimony to divine provision of manna, water, and guidance through the pillar of cloud and fire. The journey tested Israel's faith and prepared a new generation to enter Canaan under Joshua's leadership.
Archaeological & Historical Notes
Haradah has not been definitively identified with any specific archaeological site. The proposed location near Wadi Lussan in the Negev region represents one scholarly suggestion based on the general itinerary of Numbers 33. The Sinai and Negev wildernesses have been surveyed extensively by archaeologists, revealing ancient campsites, pottery scatters, and ephemeral occupation sites that may correspond to wilderness-period Israelite activity. However, nomadic encampments rarely leave substantial archaeological traces, making confident identification of specific biblical waypoints extremely difficult. The general wilderness geography of the southern Negev and Sinai is consistent with the Exodus itinerary as preserved in Numbers.
Verse Appearances (2)
Sources: ISBE Encyclopedia · OpenBible Geocoding (CC BY) · Pleiades Gazetteer View all →