Akrabbim, a pass located in the Negev, marked the southern border of the tribe of Judah.
Also known as Scorpion
Akrabbim, meaning "scorpions," is mentioned in Numbers 34:4 and Joshua 15:3 as a geographic feature that marked the southern border of the Promised Land and the tribe of Judah. It is described as an ascent or pass, likely located in the Negev region. The exact location of Akrabbim is not certain, but it is believed to be in the vicinity of the Dead Sea and the Zin Desert. The pass served as an important boundary marker for the Israelites as they prepared to enter and divide the land of Canaan.
Approximate location: 30.688, 35.263 · view on a map · on the Bible atlas
Scorpions, probably the general name given to the ridge containing the pass between the south of the Dead Sea and Zin, es-Sufah, by which there is an ascent to the level of the land of Palestine. Scorpions are said to abound in this whole district, and hence the name (Num. 34:4). It is called “Maaleh-acrabbim” in Josh. 15:3, and “the ascent of Akrabbim” in Num. 34:4.
(the ascent of, or the going up to); also MAALEH-ACRABBIM (the scorpion pass), A pass between the south end of the Dead Sea and Zin, forming one of the landmarks on the south boundary at once of Judah, (Joshua 15:3) and of the Holy Land. (Numbers 34:4) Also the boundary of the Amorites. (Judges 1:36) As to the name, scorpions abound in the whole of this district.
AKRAB'BIM (scorpions), a range of hills on the southern boundary of Judah, Num 34:4 ; Josh 15:3, and on the border of the territory of the Amorites. Jud 1:36. The "ascent of" and the "going up to" Akrabbim is the famous "Scorpion Pass," where the route from Petra to Hebron passes out of the Ghur, or Wady, el-Fikreh. At the upper end of this winding valley, 10 miles from Maderah, is a wild ascent now called Nahh Kareb, which is regarded as the ancient Akrabbim or "Scorpion Pass." Scorpions still abound in the region. It was also called Maalehacrabbim. Josh 15:3.
AKRAB'BIM (scorpions), a range of hills on the southern boundary of Judah, Num 34:4 ; Josh 15:3, and on the border of the territory of the Amorites. Jud 1:36. The "ascent of" and the "going up to" Akrabbim is the famous "Scorpion Pass," where the route from Petra to Hebron passes out of the Ghur, or Wady, el-Fikreh. At the upper end of this winding valley, 10 miles from Maderah, is a wild ascent now called Nahh Kareb, which is regarded as the ancient Akrabbim or "Scorpion Pass." Scorpions still abound in the region. It was also called Maalehacrabbim. Josh 15:3.
Easton (1897), Smith (1863), Hitchcock (1869), Hastings (1898) and Schaff are in the public domain. Parsed text: neuu-org/bible-dictionary-dataset (CC BY 4.0). Headwords and whitespace normalised for this site.
3 verses in 3 books · English text: BSB (change it from the menu at the top) · Strong’s H4610
cross south of the Ascent of Akrabbim, continue to Zin, and go south of Kadesh-barnea. Then it will go on to Hazar-addar and proceed to Azmon,
proceeded south of the Ascent of Akrabbim, continued on to Zin, went over to the south of Kadesh-barnea, ran past Hezron up to Addar, and curved toward Karka.
And the border of the Amorites extended from the Ascent of Akrabbim to Sela and beyond.
Names, family links and references: STEPBible TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Short descriptions were drafted with AI assistance by STEPBible. Family links follow STEPBible’s scholarly decisions where genealogies are ambiguous.