Beer-Sheva (/bɪərˈʃiːbə/; Hebrew: בְּאֵר שֶׁבַע About this sound Be'er Sheva [beʔeʁˈʃeva]; Arabic: بئر السبع About this sound Bi'ir as-Sab [biːr esˈsabeʕ]) is the largest city in the Negev desert of southern Israel. Often referred to as the "Capital of the Negev", it is the center of the fourth most populous metropolitan area in Israel, the eighth most populous city in Israel with a population of 203,604, and the second largest city with a total of 117,500 dunams (after Jerusalem).
Human settlement in the area dates from the Copper Age. The inhabitants lived in caves, crafting metal tools and raising cattle.[7] Findings unearthed at Tel Be'er Sheva, an archaeological site east of modern-day Beersheba, suggest the region has been inhabited since the 4th millennium BC.[8] The city has been destroyed and rebuilt many times over the centuries.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beersheba
From Murray, pages 64-5
As Beersheba, one of the most interesting places on the southern border of Palestine, is only some 10 m. distant from Ar’arah, it is better to make a détour of 5 hrs. to visit it, than to follow the direct road by Milh to Hebron. The way leads along Wady Ar’ârah till it falls into Wady es-Sab‘a in about 3 hrs., and then follows that valley to the ruins of Bir es-Seb'a, “ Well of the Seven,” corresponding to the ancient Beersheba, “ Well of the Oath.” The first things that arrest attention at this interesting spot are two “wells” of great antiquity, containing pure living water, a phenomenon sufficiently rare in this thirsty region to be remarkable. One of these is 12 1/2 ft. in diameter, and 44 deep to the surface of the water. The other is smaller. They are on the N. bank of the wady. Along the rising ground above the wells are heaps of stones, traces of foundations, and fragments of pottery, extending over a space 1/2 m. long by ¼ broad. On the S. side of the valley is a stone wall several hundred feet long, apparently intended to support the bank. Such is all that now remains of Beersheba.
Beersheba is one of the most ancient sites on record. It took its name from the well Abraham dug, and the oath by which he confirmed his treaty with Abimelech. (Gen. xxi. 31.) Here the patriarch planted a grove—a kind of natural temple in which to worship God; here too he received the command to sacrifice Isaac, and from hence he set out to execute that fearfully solemn mission. (Gen. Xxi., xxii.) Here Jacob obtained by fraud his brother's birthright and blessing (Gen. xxvii.); and here he offered up sacrifices on setting out with his family for Egypt. (Gen. xlvi.) Here Samuel made his sons Judges (1 Sam. viii.) ; and from hence Elijah, when he fled from Jezebel, wandered out into the southern desert, and lay down under a juniper-tree, where he was fed by bread from heaven. (1 Kings xix.) And here was the border of Palestine proper, whose extent was reckoned from Dan to Beersheba. This city was occupied by the Jews after the captivity (Neh. xi. 27); but its name does not again appear in history till the 4th centy. of our era. It was then a Roman garrison; and become an episcopal see.