Hatzeva
# Hatzeva

Hatzeva (Hebrew: חֲצֵבָה) is a moshav in southern Israel. Located in the Arava, 12 km north of Ein Yahav, it falls under the jurisdiction of Central Arava Regional Council. In 2021 it had a population of 693.

## History

### Antiquity

Hatzeva was a fort and caravanserai established beside Ein Hatzeva, a rare water source in the region. It is identified with the biblical site Tamar (1 Kings 9:17-18). According to the Bible, it was a Judean fort, but Edomite idols were also discovered there, now on display at the Israel Museum. In the Nabatean period, Hatzeva was a caravanserai along the northern path of the incense route. Later it became a Roman fort, part of the Roman southern security zone (The ‘Limes’). The Roman Scorpion Ascent that connects Hazteva and Mamshit is believed to date from that time. The site was excavated in the 1980s and yielded finds in six stratified layers.

### State of Israel

Hatzeva was founded in 1965 as a Nahal settlement near the Arava Road and became a moshav in 1968. It was named after the nearby Hatzeva Fortress. In 1971 its location changed slightly. Near the moshav's access road lies the Hatzeva field school (Gidron), located where the moshav was until 1971. Hashomer Hachadash is a grassroots movement in Hatzeva established to help Israeli farmers and ranchers safeguard their land.

