Beer Sheva (or Beersheba in most English translations of the Bible), is a major crossroads. Its potential was felt by Abraham, father of the Jewish people, who arrived here 3,700 years ago. He dug a well to water his flock, made a covenant of peace with Abimelech, the king of Gerar, and the two swore allegiance. Tel Be'er Sheba, five kilometers east of the modern city, contains the ruins of a walled city from the Israelite monarchic period. UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site in 2005.

Modern-day Beer Sheva was founded at the start of the 20th century by the Ottomans. Remains of buildings from this period and from the time of the British Mandate can be seen in the Old City. The Jewish city was established in 1949, becomnig the center of the south and the capital of the Negev. Today, it has museums, a zoo, historical sites, one of the largest universities in Israel - and most recently, the country's cyber center.