Location
Overview
Arad was a Canaanite city-state in the Negev, on the southern approaches to Canaan, whose king resisted Israel's advance.
The king of Arad attacks
"When king Arad the Canaanite, which dwelt in the south, heard tell that Israel came... then he fought against Israel, and took some of them prisoners" (Numbers 21:1).
The vow and the victory
Israel vowed that if God gave them victory they would utterly destroy the cities. "And the LORD hearkened to the voice of Israel, and delivered up the Canaanites; and they utterly destroyed them and their cities: and he called the name of the place Hormah" (Numbers 21:2–3).
An earlier defeat avenged
The victory reversed an earlier humiliation, when Israel had been beaten "even unto Hormah" after presumptuously trying to enter the land against God's word (Numbers 14:45).
Events Here
The king of Arad attacks Israel; Israel vows and prevails
Scripture References
4 versesNumbers2 verses
Numbers 21:1
And when king Arad the Canaanite, which dwelt in the south, heard tell that Israel came by the way of the spies; then he fought against Israel, and took some of them prisoners.
Numbers 33:40
And king Arad the Canaanite, which dwelt in the south in the land of Canaan, heard of the coming of the children of Israel.
Joshua1 verse
Joshua 12:14
The king of Hormah, one; the king of Arad, one;
Judges1 verse
Judges 1:16
And the children of the Kenite, Moses' father in law, went up out of the city of palm trees with the children of Judah into the wilderness of Judah, which lieth in the south of Arad; and they went and dwelt among the people.
Archaeology & History
Tel Arad in the eastern Negev has been extensively excavated, revealing an Early Bronze Age city and a later Israelite fortress with a unique sanctuary. Its long history as a desert stronghold matches its biblical role guarding the southern road into Canaan.
People who appear here
Frequently asked about Arad
Where is Arad today?
Today, Arad corresponds to Tel Arad, Israel.
What happened at Arad in the Bible?
Key biblical events at Arad include the king of arad attacks israel; israel vows and prevails.
Where is Arad first mentioned in the Bible?
Arad is first mentioned in Numbers 21:1.
How often is Arad mentioned in the Bible?
Arad is mentioned in 4 verses across 3 books: Numbers, Joshua, Judges.
Who was the king of Arad?
A Canaanite king of the Negev who attacked Israel as they approached Canaan, taking some captive — before Israel, after a vow, defeated him.
Where is Arad?
In the eastern Negev of Israel, at the archaeological mound of Tel Arad.