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Bible Encyclopedias
South
Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature
or The country, or quarter of the heavens, which the Shemite, standing with his face to the east, supposes to be on his right hand. An important use of the word is as the name or designation of the desert regions lying at the south of Judea, consisting of the deserts of Shur, Zin, and Paran, the mountainous country of Edom or Idumea, and part of Arabia Petraea (; ). In this region the Amalekites are said to have dwelt, 'in the land of the south,' when Moses sent the spies to view the land of Canaan (), viz., the locality between Idumea and Egypt, and to the east of the Dead Sea and Mount Seir [AMALEKITES]. The inhabitants of this region were included in the conquests of Joshua (). To the same region belongs the passage, 'Turn our captivity as the streams in the south' (); which suddenly fill the wadys or valleys during the season of rain (comp.;;;; ). These are dry in summer (). Through part of this sterile region the Israelites must repass in their vain application to Egypt. It is called the Wilderness of Judea (; ). Through part of this region lay the road from Jerusalem to Gaza, 'which is desert' ().
Public Domain.
Kitto, John, ed. Entry for 'South'. "Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature". https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/kbe/s/south.html.
