HORMAH hôr’ mə (חָרְמָֽה, devotion). A Canaanite city in the northern Negeb, previously called Zephath. It apparently changed hands, for in Joshua 15:30 it is listed as belonging to Judah, while in Joshua 19:4 it is listed as belonging to Simeon. It was Judahite in the time of David (1 Sam 30:30). It is first mentioned in Numbers 14:45, where it is said that when the Israelites rashly invaded Canaan at Kadesh against the will of God the Amalekites and Canaanites defeated and pursued them as far as Hormah. Almost forty years later the Canaanite king of Arad fought against Israel and took some of them captives. Israel vowed to the Lord that if He would help them conquer the Canaanites, they would utterly destroy their cities. God answered their prayer and they conquered their cities, and named the place Hormah. This event prob. is referred to in Judges 1:17, where it is said that Judah assisted Simeon in defeating the Canaanites, who inhabited Zephath, and called it Hormah. David sent to Hormah part of the booty taken from the Amalekites who had raided Ziklag, prob. because it was hospitable to him while he was an outcast (1 Sam 30:30). Its site is unknown. It is said to be between Geder and Arad in Joshua 12:14; between Chesil and Ziklag in Joshua 15:30; and between Bethel and Ziklag in Joshua 19:4. In Joshua 15:30 it is referred to as being “in the extreme south, toward the boundary of Edom.” Sites that have been suggested are Tell el-Milh c. seven m. E of Beersheba and Tell esh-sheri’ah, c. twelve m. NW of Beersheba.