Taylor Quinn: Catholic Encyclopedia “Desert in the Bible” by Kevin Knight 12/3/10

“Desert in the Bible” by Knight is about different definitions of desert in the Bible in the ancient Greek and Hebrew language. Three words for desert are given. Midbar, arabah, horbah, and jeshimon are all words that are used to describe a desert in the Bible. Midbar has the root dabar, which means to lead. Often this was a place that Sheppard’s would take their livestock to graze. The place did not have enough vegetation to live off of but it was good for livestock. Many wild beasts lived there. Arabah means to be arid. It refers to a geographical place that is unproductive and desolate. Horbah means to lie waste. It carries the sense of dryness, desolation, and ruin. Jeshimon comes from the root jashmon, which means to be desolate. It is seen as a place that is without any water. All of these words give a deeper understanding to the Biblical word desert.