Nahal Gerar

Major Late Bronze Age sites along the Besor and Gerar rivers

Nachal Gerar, also Nachal Grar (Hebrew: נחל גרר) is a wadi in Israel, in the Negev desert. Along this wadi, there are several important ancient Bronze Age archaeological sites. Also, this was the area of Philistine settlement during the Early Iron Age.

Geography

Nachal Gerar begins on the border between the northern Negev and the southwest foothills of Judaean Mountains, near the village of Lahav.[1] Then the wadi flows west near the city of Lehavim, and along the southern edge of a large Bedouin town of Rahat. Then it enters the country on the northwestern edge of the Negev near the town of Netivot, where the area is currently being turned into agricultural use. Near the village of Re'im, it flows into Nahal Besor.

Nature reserve

The lower river area is now a nature reserve used by tourists. The Jewish National Fund is carrying out forest planting and the development of hiking trails.[2]

The reserve consists of two parts. The first has an area of about 2,000 dunams (2 square kilometers) and is located between Rahat and Tidhar, the other has an area of about 5,500 dunams (5.5 square kilometers) and lies between the villages Ranen and Re'im.

Archaeology

Along Nachal Gerar, there are several important Bronze Age archaeological sites. The major settlement of this area started at the time of the Egyptian Middle Kingdom, and continued into the New Kingdom, when some significant Egyptian settlements were founded. After the decline of the Egyptian sites, during the Early Iron Age, this area became culturally influenced by the Philistine settlers.

The major sites in this area are Tel Haror, and Tel Sera. Even further east along the river there are also the sites of Tell Halif and Tell Beit Mirsim.

Near Tel Haror, in the neighbourhood of the modern town of Tidhar, there are numerous historical mounds, some of them not excavated. Some scholars believe that Tel Haror was the ancient Sharuhen fortress of the Hyksos.

Biblical connections

Nachal Grar is named after the Biblical sites mentioned in the Book of Genesis 20.1: "Abraham went thence into the country of Negeb, and settled between Kadesh and Shur; sojourning in Gerar."[3] Gerar is now generally believed to be the site of Tel Haror.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Article translated from the Czech language Wikipedia
  2. ↑ Nahal Gerar: Native Israeli Trees in the Gerar River Gully
  3. ↑ Gerar -- also known as Tel Haror, Tell Abu Hureireh, Geder -- bibleplaces.com

External Links

Coordinates: 31°12′57″N 34°41′39″E / 31.2158°N 34.6942°E / 31.2158; 34.6942

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