Reference: Negeb,
Hastings
NEGEB, originally meaning 'the dry land,' is in most passages in the OT the name of a definite geographical area (De 1:7; 34:3; Jos 10:40; 12:8 etc.); the word is, however, used also in the sense of 'South' (Ge 13:14). The Negeb was often the scene of Abraham's wanderings (Ge 12:9; 13:1,8; 20:1); here Hagar was succoured by the angel (Ge 16:7,14); Isaac (Ge 24:62) and Jacob (Ge 37:1; 46:5) both dwelt there; through this district passed the spies (Nu 13:17,22). In Nu 13:29 the Negeb is described as belonging to the Amalekites. Later the land was allotted to Simeon, and its cities are enumerated (Jos 19:1-9); later they reverted to Judah (Jos 15:21-32). David was stationed by Achish at Ziklag on the borders of the Negeb (1Sa 27:6). At this time the Negeb is described as of several parts, the Negeb of Judah, of the Jerahmeelites, and of the Kenites (1Sa 27:10); while in 1Sa 30:14 we read of the Negeb of the Cherethites and of Caleb. Jeremiah (Jer 13:19) prophesied trouble as coming on the cities of this region, but on the return from captivity they too were to participate in the blessings (Jer 32:44; 33:13).
The district in question was an ill-defined tract of country lying S. of Hebron, and extending some 70 miles to the Tih or desert. It was bounded on the E. by the Dead Sea and the 'Ar
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Then Abram departed out of Egypt; both he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him unto the south.
Then said Abram unto Lot, "Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between thee and me, and between my herdsmen and thine, for we be brethren.
And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was departed from him, "Lift up thine eyes and look from the place where thou art, northward, southward, eastward and westward,
And the Angel of the LORD found her beside a fountain of water in the wilderness: even by a well in the way to Shur.
Wherefore she called the well, "the well of the living that seeth me" which well is between Kadesh and Bered.
And Abraham departed thence toward the south country and dwelled between Kadesh and Shur and sojourned in Gerar.
And Isaac was a coming from the well of the living and seeing, for he dwelt in the south country,
And Jacob dwelt in the land wherein his father was a stranger, that is to say in the land of Canaan.
And Jacob rose up from Beersheba. And the sons of Israel carried Jacob their father, and their children and their wives in the chariots which Pharaoh had sent to carry him.
And Moses sent them forth to spy out the land of Canaan, and said unto them, "Get you southward and go up into the high country:
and they ascended unto the south and came unto Hebron: where Ahiman was, and Sheshai and Talmai; the sons of Anak. Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.
The Amalekites dwell in the south country, and the Hittites, Jebusites and the Amorites dwell in the mountains, and the Canaanites dwell by the sea and along by the coast of Jordan."
depart therefore and take your journey and go unto the hills of the Amorites and unto all places nigh thereunto, both fields, hills and dales: and unto the south and unto the sea's side in the land of Canaan, and unto Lebanon: even unto the great river Euphrates.
and the south and the region of the plain of Jericho the city of date trees, even unto Zoar.
And Joshua smote all the hill countries and the south countries, and the valleys, and the springs of water, with all their kings and let nought remain, but utterly destroyed all that breathed, as the LORD God of Israel commanded.
in the upper land, and nether land, in plains, and springs of water, in the wilderness, and south country the Hittites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perezites, the Hivites and the Jebusites:
And the cities of the tribe of the children of Judah in all quarters, toward the coasts of Edom southward, were: Kabzeel, Eder, and Jagur; Kinah, Dimonah, and Adadah; read more. Kadesh, Hazor, and Ithnan; Ziph, Telem, and Bealoth; Hazor Hadattah, and Keriothhezron, otherwise called Hazor; Amam, Shema, and Moladah; Hazargaddah, Heshmon, and Bethpelet; Hazarshual, Beersheba, and Bazjothjah; Baalah, Iim, and Ezem; Eltolad, Chesil, and Hormah; Ziklag, Madmannah, and Sansannah; Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain, and Rimmon: all these cities are twenty and nine with their villages.
And the second lot came out unto the tribe of the children of Simeon by their kindreds. And their inheritance fell in the midst of the inheritance of the children of Judah. And their inheritance was Beersheba, Sheba, and Moladah; read more. Hazarshual, Balah, and Ezem, Eltolad, Bethul and Hormah; Ziklag, Bethmarcaboth and Hazarsusah; Bethlebaoth, and Sharuhen: Thirteen cities with their villages. Aim, Rimmon, Ether and Ashan: Four cities with their villages. And thereto all the villages that lie round about these cities, even unto Baalathbeer and Ramah, southward. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Simeon in their kindreds. Out of the portion of the children of Judah came the inheritance of the children of Simeon. For the part of the children of Judah was too much for them: and therefore the children of Simeon had their inheritance in the inheritance of them.
But Saul and the people spared Agag, and they left of the sheep and of the oxen and fat things and the lambs and all that was good, and would not destroy them. But all that was nought worth and flaggy, that they destroyed utterly.
Then Achish gave him Ziklag the same day; for which cause Ziklag pertaineth unto the kings of Judah unto this day.
And David smote the land and left neither man nor woman alive, and took the sheep, the oxen, the asses, camels, and clothes, and removed and came to Achish. And Achish said, "Have ye not been a roving this day?" And David answered, "Yes, in the south of Judah, and in the south of the Jezreelites, and in the south of the Kenites."
We came a roving upon the south of the Cherethites, and upon them of Judah and on the south of Caleb. And we burnt Ziklag with fire."
The cities toward the south shall be shut up, and no man shall open them. All Judah shall be carried away captive, so that none shall remain.
Yea, land shall be bought for money, and evidences made thereupon and sealed before witnesses in the country of Benjamin, and round about Jerusalem: in the cities of Judah; in the cities that are upon the mountains; and in them that lie beneath; yea, and in the cities that are in the desert. For I will bring their prisoners hither again, sayeth the LORD.'"