Where is Iim in the Bible?

Iim is mentioned in Joshua 15:29 as one of the cities in the southernmost part of the territory allotted to the tribe of Judah. It was located in the Negev region of ancient Judea.

What happened at Iim in the Bible?

The Bible does not record any specific events at Iim. It is listed only as a geographical location among the cities given to Judah during the division of the Promised Land (Joshua 15:29).

Why is Iim significant?

Iim's significance is primarily geographical, helping to define the borders of Judah's inheritance. Its mention confirms the historical detail of the biblical account and its connection to the land of Israel.

Iim

cityOld TestamentJudea

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Modern Name

Deir al Ghawi

Country

Israel

Region

Judea

Coordinates

31.3648, 34.9206

Iim is an ancient city mentioned in the Old Testament, located in the region of Judea in modern-day Israel. Known today as Deir al Ghawi. It appears across 1 verse in Scripture.

Biblical History

Iim (also rendered Iye-abarim or Iyim) is a city listed among the settlements in the southern portion of the territory allotted to the tribe of Judah. It appears in Joshua 15:29 within the list of towns in the Negev district, near the border with Edom. The name may be related to the Hebrew word for "ruins" or "heaps," suggesting an ancient site already showing signs of age when the Israelites settled it. Some scholars connect this Iim with Iye-abarim ("ruins of Abarim"), a stopping point on the Israelites' wilderness journey mentioned in Numbers 21:11 and Numbers 33:44-45, though this identification is debated since the wilderness station was likely east of the Dead Sea in Moabite territory. Whether or not these are the same location, Iim's inclusion in Judah's Negev towns reflects the tribal claim to the arid southern frontier. This semi-desert region served as a buffer zone between settled Judah and the nomadic peoples of the wilderness, requiring hardy settlers to maintain Israel's territorial integrity in a demanding landscape.

Archaeological & Historical Notes

Iim has been tentatively identified with Deir el-Ghawi, a site in the northern Negev region of modern Israel, southeast of Beer-sheba. The identification is based on the sequence of towns listed in Joshua 15:29 and geographical considerations regarding the southern Judean boundary. Archaeological surveys of the northern Negev have documented numerous small Iron Age settlements in this area, many of which were likely established during the period of the Judean monarchy to secure the kingdom's southern border. The region is characterized by semi-arid terrain suitable primarily for pastoral activity and limited dry-farming. No major excavation has been reported specifically at Deir el-Ghawi, and the identification with biblical Iim remains provisional.

Verse Appearances (1)

Josh

Josh 15:29

Sources: ISBE Encyclopedia · OpenBible Geocoding (CC BY) · Pleiades Gazetteer View all →

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