Wadis, also known as dry riverbeds or valleys, are geographical features commonly found in arid and semi-arid regions, including the Middle East. In the context of the Bible, wadis are significant both geographically and symbolically, often serving as settings for various biblical events and teachings.

Geographical Significance:

Wadis are typically dry except during the rainy season when they can become torrents of water. This characteristic makes them both a source of life and a potential hazard. In the biblical lands, wadis were crucial for sustaining life, providing water for agriculture, livestock, and human consumption during the rainy season. They also served as natural routes for travel and communication.

Biblical References:

1. Wadi Kidron: One of the most notable wadis mentioned in the Bible is the Kidron Valley, or Wadi Kidron, which lies between Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives. It is referenced in several passages, including 2 Samuel 15:23, where David crossed the Kidron during his flight from Absalom: "Everyone in the countryside was weeping loudly as all the people passed by. The king also crossed the Kidron Valley, and all the people moved on toward the wilderness" .

2. Wadi Cherith: Another significant wadi is the Wadi Cherith, where the prophet Elijah was commanded by God to hide and was miraculously fed by ravens during a time of drought. 1 Kings 17:3-4 states, "Leave here, turn eastward, and hide yourself by the Brook Cherith, east of the Jordan. You are to drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there" .

3. Symbolic Use: Wadis are also used symbolically in the Bible to represent the transient nature of life and the suddenness of God's judgment. In Job 6:15-17, Job compares his friends to unreliable wadis: "My brothers are as faithless as a wadi, as seasonal streams that overflow, darkened because of the ice and the inflow of melting snow, but ceasing in the dry season and vanishing from their channels in the heat" .

Cultural and Historical Context:

In ancient Israel, wadis were integral to the agricultural and pastoral lifestyle. The seasonal nature of wadis required careful planning and reliance on God's provision. The Israelites' understanding of wadis as both life-giving and potentially destructive reflects their broader relationship with the land and dependence on divine providence.

Theological Implications:

Wadis in the Bible often illustrate themes of trust, provision, and judgment. They remind believers of God's ability to provide sustenance in times of need, as seen in Elijah's experience at the Wadi Cherith. Additionally, the imagery of wadis underscores the importance of faithfulness and the consequences of spiritual dryness or unfaithfulness, as depicted in the metaphorical use in the book of Job.

Overall, wadis serve as a powerful symbol in the biblical narrative, representing both the physical realities of life in the ancient Near East and the spiritual truths that transcend time and geography.5158a. nachal -- torrent, torrent-valley, wadi
... 2), ravines (2), river (13), rivers (5), shaft (1), stream (5), streams (5), torrent
(7), torrents (3), valley (39), valleys (4), Wadi (1), wadi (1), wadis (3 ...
/hebrew/5158a.htm - 5k

The Nations of the South-East
... plains. Its wadis were coveted by the tribes of the desert; the well-watered
valley of the Arnon attracted more powerful foes. When ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter iii the nations of.htm

The Israelites
... the high-road of trade which led northward from the Gulf of Aqaba; skirting Edom
accordingly, they marched through a waterless desert to the green wadis of Moab ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter i the israelites.htm

Canaan
... He had occupied the wadis of Mount Seir before the Edomites had entered them, and
a part of the later population of the country traced its descent from a ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter ii canaan.htm

Wadis (3 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Wadis (3 Occurrences). Numbers 21:14 Therefore
it is said in the book of the Wars of Yahweh, "Vaheb in ...
/w/wadis.htm - 7k

Wafer (3 Occurrences)

/w/wafer.htm - 8k

Wadi (11 Occurrences)

/w/wadi.htm - 9k

Arabia (9 Occurrences)
... The most important of these wadis is the West Sirhan, which runs from the Hauran
in a Southeast direction to the Jauf (see DUMAH), the West el-Kora to the ...
/a/arabia.htm - 43k

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