Caves in the Bible

Caves were frequently used as dwelling-places (Numbers 24:21; Song of Songs 2:14; Jeremiah 49:16; Obad. 1:3).

The pits or cavities in rocks were also sometimes used as prisons (Isaiah 24:22; 51:14; Zechariah 9:11).

Caves that had niches in their sides were used as burial places (Ezek. 32:23; John 11:38).

There are numerous natural caves among the limestone rocks of Syria, many of which have been artificially enlarged for various purposes.

Notable caves

• The first mention of a cave in Scripture occurs in the history of Lot (Genesis 19:30).

  Lot went up from Zoar, and stayed [dwelled] in the mountains, and his two daughters with him; for he was afraid to stay in Zoar; and he stayed [dwelled] in a cave, he and his two daughters. —Genesis 19:30 NASB

• The next we read of is the Cave of Machpelah (Hebrew: מערת המכפלה —transliteration: Ma'arat HaMachpelah), which Abraham purchased from the sons of Heth (Genesis 25:9-10). It was the burial place of Sarah and of Abraham himself, also of Isaac, Rebekah, Leah, and Jacob (Genesis 49:31; 50:13). (also see: Ishmael)

  The site today venerated is in Hebron and is known as the Cave of the Patriarchs. For observant Jews, it is their 2nd most holy place. It is also sacred to Muslims. Over the cave is the Ibrahimi Mosque, converted from a 2-thousand year old Judean building of the Herodian-era.

  Site of the venerated Cave of the Patriarchs (supposed Cave of Machpelah)—satellite view

• Horite caves

  “The excavations at Deir Dubban, on the south side of the wady leading to Santa Hanneh, are probably the dwellings of the Horites,” the ancient inhabitants of Idumea proper.

• The Cave of Makkedah—into which the 5 Amorite kings retired after their defeat by Joshua (10:16, 27).

• The Cave of Adullam—an immense natural cavern, where David hid himself from Saul (1 Samuel 22:1-2).

• The Cave of Engedi—now called Ein Gedi or 'Ain Jidy, meaning “spring of the kid”, or the “fountain of the kid”, where David cut off the edge of King Saul’s robe.

  And he came to the sheepfolds on the way, where there was a cave; and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the inner recesses of the cave. Then the men of David said to him, “Behold, this is the day of which Yahweh said to you, ‘Behold, I am about to give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it seems good in your eyes.’” Then David arose and cut off the edge of Saul’s robe secretly. —1 Samuel 24:4 LSB

  Here David also found a shelter for himself and his 600 followers (1 Sam. 23:29; 1 Sam. 24:1).

  “On all sides the country is full of caverns which might serve as lurking-places for David and his men…”

  Today this place is an oasis, an archeological site and an Israeli nature reserve, located west of the Dead Sea, near Masada and the Qumran Caves.

  In Joshua 15:62, Ein Gedi is listed among the wilderness cities of the Tribe of Judah in the desert of Betharaba (aka Beit HaArava, “House of the Arava”), and in Ezekiel 47:10, it is prophesied that one day, its coastal location will make it into a fishing village, after the water of the Dead Sea has been made sweet:

  Fishing nets will be spread from Engedi to Eneglaim.

  And it will be that every living creature, which swarms in every place where the river goes, will live. And there will be very many fish, for these waters go there and the other waters are healed; so everything will live where the river goes. And it will be that fishermen will stand beside it; from Engedi to Eneglaim there will be a place for the spreading of nets. Their fish will be according to their kinds, like the fish of the Great Sea, very many. —Ezekiel 47:9-10 LSB

• Qumran Caves

  This is a series of many caves, both natural and man-made, found around the archaeological site of Qumran in the Judaean Desert. Although some of the caves were inhabited, most were apparently used for storage and hiding of valuables. It is in these limestone caves that the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered.

  • DEAD SEA SCROLLS - What is the importance of the Dead Sea Scrolls?

• The cave in which Obadiah hid the prophets from King Ahab (1 Kings 18:4) was probably in the north, but it has not been identified.

• The cave where the prophet Elijah took shelter on Mount Horeb after traveling for 40 days and 40 nights.

  So he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mountain of God. Then he came there to a cave and lodged there; and behold, the word of Yahweh came to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” —1 Kings 19:8-9 LSB

• The “cleft” of Moses on Mount Horeb

  and it will come about, while My glory is passing by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by. —Exodus 33:22 LSB

  • About the man, Moses, who really wanted to see Yahweh?

• In the time of Gideon the Israelites took refuge from the Midianites in dens and caves, such as abounded in the mountain regions of the Tribe of Manasseh (Judges 6:2).

• Soreq Cave

  
  Soreq Cave (aka Avshalom Cave) at Sorek, near Bet Shemesh, Israel. Said to be “the largest and most beautiful stalactites-stalagmites cave in Israel.” Photo by Sir_Joseph. Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported

More information

• Soreq Cave (Avshalom Cave) in Israel
• Mearah
• cave of Adullam
• cavemen and the Bible
• For a time, Elijah lived in a cave—see: Elijah
• Machpelah cave
• Horites—cave-dwellers
• Cavemen
• STONE AGE—What about the “Stone Age” people, are they real? Answer
• Discovered burial sites in the Bible, including caves
• tombs
• burial
• grave
• sepulchre
• funeral
• prison
• DEAD SEA SCROLLS found in a cave—What is the importance of the Dead Sea Scrolls? Answer
• Ancient Israelite teeth found in a cave—What can 792 teeth tell archaeologists about ancient Israelites? Answer
• Makkedah—5 kings hid in a nearby cave
• pharaoh
• the Royal Quarries in Jerusalem
• owl—living in caves
• Obadiah—hid 100 prophets in a cave
• cave under the Mosque of Omar on the Jerusalem temple mount—see: altar
• a so-called “Holy House” in Nazareth under a Roman Catholic church
• King Debir of Eglon hid in a cave
• Zohar—owner of the cave of Machpelah
• Fountain of the Virgin—in a cave
• Tabun Cave—Nahal Me'arot Nature Reserve, Israel
• Avshalom Cave, aka Soreq Cave—on the western side of Mt.Ye'ela, in the Judean hills
• Es Skhul—20km south of Haifa, Israel, 2km from the Mediterranean
• HaYonim Cave—upper Galilee, Israel
• Pa'ar Cave—Upper Galilee, Israel