Tamar Biblical Park and Tel Hatzeva
Tamar Biblical Park is run by an American Christian group called Blossoming Rose Israel, which has a long-term lease with the Israeli authorities to develop and operate this park as an archaeological and educational site — an unusual arrangement. They have also sponsored archeological digs with the Antiquities Authority. The importance of this site stemmed from it being at the crossroads of four important roads — a northern road to the Dead Sea and then to Jerusalem, to the south to Yotveta and Eilat, to the east towards Edom and Petra and ancient copper mines in Funon, and westwards through Ma’ale Akrabim, or Scorpion’s Ascent, to Mamshit in the northern Negev. Tamar means a date palm and this was an oasis in the middle of an otherwise harsh desert.
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Tel Hatzeva was the area of settlement for this area and their fortress was built a short distance from the tel. It is this latter area which is presented as Tamar Biblical Park. You can also walk from the park to the tel. An interesting question is why the fortresses were not built on the tel. Possible answers are that the park area gave better control of the road junction, permitted a better defensive layout for a rectangular fort, and had closer proximity to their water source and the caravan routes.
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​Directions: Enter “Blossoming Rose/ Biblical Tomar Park” into Waze.
Admission: There is no entrance fee, although a small donation can be given. There is a shaded picnic area and restrooms. There is an air-conditioned reception area with some artifacts and pictures of influential figures in the modern history of the Land of Israel. Their phone number is 616 696 3435. This is their website. There is a gas station at nearby Hatzeva Junction with a kosher Aroma Express bar and a kosher Burger Ranch.
Public transport: Enter “Blossoming Rose/ Biblical Tomar Park” into Moovit. The closest bus stop is at the intersection and is a 1 km/12-minute walk to the park.
This very old Jujube tree indicates the site of the foomer Tamar Spring
You can cool down in this room that displays aratifacts and pictures
Because of its strategic importance, Tamar has been the site of fortresses throughout the centuries. A fortress was built by King Solomon in Tamar: “And Solomon built Gezer, Beth-horon the lower, Baalath, and Tamar in the wilderness, in the land” (I Kings 9:17–18.). It may well be that Tamar was important for David and Solomon because of copper mining in Funon, and perhaps in Timna. The copper could have been traded for luxury good from Ophir, Sheba and Arabia.
An Israelite fortress has been revealed from the 10th/9th centuries BCE and a much larger Judean fortress from Iron Age II from the 9th to 8th centuries BCE. Ezekiel 47:19 and 48:28 lists Tamar as a southern boundary point of the Land of Israel, and these were likely the southern administrative and military stations of the Kingdom of Judah. The fortress shows casement walls, which were typical of Israelite fortresses, and a four-room building, which is a typical Israelite style for homes, and perhaps also for administrative buildings or barracks.
Water for the inhabitants would have been obtained from the Ein Hatzeva Spring, which was one of the abundant springs in the Arava Valley. This spring is now dry, as drilling for water in the 1960s led to a drop in the level of groundwater. An ancient jubjube tree indicates the location of this former spring. This species of tree does not form trunk rings, and it is impossible to know its precise age, but it could be as many as 1,500 to 2,000 years old. If so, it would be the oldest surviving tree in Israel. Cisterns would also have collected flash-flood runoffs.
Archeologists have identified the ruins of a small Nabatean fortress, temple and storage under the ruins of a Roman fortress. Tamar was part of the Nabatean Incense and Spice Route and was one of the stations from Petra, to Mamshit, and then to Gaza and other ports on the Mediterranean.
The Nabatean Kingdom was annexed by Rome in 106 CE, their trade was taken over, and a small two-floor fortress was constructed here. A much larger fortress was built in the second half of the 3rd century with corner towers and a massive gate complex, probably during the reign of Diocletian. There was also an inn and bathhouse complex by the walled city. These were destroyed in an earthquake in 344 CE and rebuilt, but were destroyed again in an earthquake in 353 CE and not rebuilt. Tamar became an agricultural farm during the Early Islamic period, and a police station was built here during the British Mandate.
Other worthwhile sites in the Northern Arava:
The Arava Peace Road follows the border between Israel and Jordan and offers views of fields, the Edom Mountains and the Arava. Take the access road at Moshav Idan and continue south to the northern entrance to Ein Yahav.
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Vidor Artists Colony is a village where artists fulfill their dream of living in the desert and creating artwork. On the other side of the road is a picturesque pundak with a restaurant.
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The Eshet Dome. The Ashosh Stream Nature Reserve has a family-friendly, one-way trail located close to the Arava Road that runs through desert canyons, streams and mountains. The hiking trail begins at the access road to Moshav Paran, just east of the moshav’s gates. (Note that we have not tried out this trail).
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Sapir Park. This is an oasis at the entrance to Sapir and is a perfect place for a picnic.