Original Word: מַעֲלֵה עַקְרַבִּים
Part of Speech: Proper Name Location
Transliteration: Ma`aleh `Aqrabbiym
Pronunciation: mah-ah-LAY ah-krah-BEEM
Phonetic Spelling: (mah-al-ay' ak-rab-beem')
KJV: Maaleh-accrabim, the ascent (going up) of Akrabbim
NASB: ascent of Akrabbim
Word Origin: [from H4608 (מַעֲלֶה - ascent) and (the plural of) H6137 (עַקרָב - scorpions)]

1. Steep of Scorpions, a place in the Desert

Maaleh-accrabim, the ascent going up of Akrabbim

From ma'aleh and (the plural of) aqrab; Steep of Scorpions, a place in the Desert -- Maaleh- accrabim, the ascent (going up) of Akrabbim.

see HEBREW ma'aleh

see HEBREW aqrab

Word Origin
from maaleh and aqrab
Definition
"ascent of scorpions," a place on the S. border of Isr.
NASB Translation
ascent of Akrabbim (3).

Location and Geographic Setting

Maaleh Akrabbim, literally “Ascent of the Scorpions,” is a steep pass that rises from the Arabah valley toward the highlands of the Negev. It is situated just west of the Dead Sea’s southern tip, marking the transition from the wilderness basin to the plateau of Judah. Rugged cliffs, arid conditions, and an abundance of scorpions made the climb both formidable and memorable, so the place name reflects its natural hazards. The pass commands a strategic corridor linking Edom, the Arabah trade routes, and the heartland of Israel.

Biblical Occurrences

1. Numbers 34:4 establishes the ascent as part of the southern border for the inheritance of the twelve tribes: “Then your border will turn from the south to the Ascent of Akrabbim, proceed to Zin, and end at Kadesh-barnea. It will then go to Hazar-addar and continue to Azmon”.
2. Joshua 15:3 repeats the same boundary while defining Judah’s territorial allotment.
3. Judges 1:36 cites it as a dividing line between the Amorites in the lowlands and the tribe of Dan in the hill country, underscoring the incomplete conquest: “And the border of the Amorites extended from the Ascent of Akrabbim to Sela and upward”.

Historical Context

In the wilderness generation the ascent represented the first stretch of the southern frontier God promised to Abraham’s descendants (Genesis 15:18). Under Joshua it became the recognized limit of Judah, the royal tribe. During the early Judges era, however, Amorite pockets still controlled territory as far north as the pass, illustrating Israel’s faltering obedience. Thus Maaleh Akrabbim functions as a barometer of covenant faithfulness: when Israel trusted the LORD, the pass marked secure inheritance; when faith waned, it marked lost ground.

Strategic and Defensive Significance

Control of Maaleh Akrabbim meant mastery over southern access to Judah’s highlands. Armies or caravans ascending from the Arabah had to negotiate its narrow switchbacks, making it an ideal point for defense or ambush. The natural fortification helped shield the promised land from Edomite or Amalekite incursions and protected the trade in copper and salt drawn from the Dead Sea region.

Archaeological and Modern Identification

Many researchers correlate Maaleh Akrabbim with the Naqb es-Sfeifa or the modern road ascending near Scorpion Pass (Ma’ale Akrabim) in Israel’s Negev. Pottery sherds, Iron Age campsites, and defensive watchtowers discovered along these ridges support continuous use from the Late Bronze Age through the Kingdom period.

Symbolic and Theological Reflections

1. Boundary: The ascent stands as a tangible reminder that God appoints borders for His people (Acts 17:26). Respecting those limits brought blessing; ignoring them invited discipline.
2. Testing: The scorpions evoke the perils of the wilderness (Deuteronomy 8:15). Crossing the ascent required vigilance, reinforcing the principle that entrance into promised rest involves trial and perseverance.
3. Victory in Christ: Where Israel faltered against the Amorites, Jesus fulfills perfect obedience and secures an everlasting inheritance beyond every earthly border (Hebrews 4:8-9).

Ministerial Applications

• Like Israel mapping its inheritance, believers should recognize and occupy the spiritual territory Christ has given, neither shrinking back like the Danites nor overreaching beyond God’s call.
• The ascent warns of subtle “scorpions”—compromise, fear, or unbelief—that can sting a congregation’s advance. Shepherd-leaders are to guard the passes of doctrine and practice.
• God turns hard climbs into testimonies: what once was a scorpion-infested slope becomes a landmark of His covenant faithfulness.

Related Passages for Further Study

Deuteronomy 8:15; Joshua 13:1-6; Psalm 16:6; Acts 17:26-27; Hebrews 4:1-11

עַקְרַבִּ֑ים עַקְרַבִּים֙ עקרבים ‘aq·rab·bîm ‘aqrabbîm akrabBimInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts