Who and what is…
Arad

Hebrew: עֲרָד —transliteration: `Arad —meaning: fugitive

This is the name of a biblical city and a man.

Arad, the man

Arad is a son of Beriah (1 Chronicles 8:15).

Arad, the city

The ancient Canaanite city-state of Arad was about 20 miles south of Hebron, and about 20 miles east-northeast of Beersheba. This fortified city guarded the route that linked the the Judean hill country with the southern Rift. The king of Arad “fought against Israel and took of them prisoners” when they were retreating from Edom (Numbers 21:1; 33:40; Judges 1:16).

Arad was finally subdued by Joshua (Joshua 12:14).

Arad was later destroyed in by the Romans who built a citadel there in the years following their destruction of Jerusalem.

In 1962, archaeologists discovered Arad’s temple. The site is now called Tell Arad (Tel Arad) and is part of Tel Arad National Park in the State of Israel. It is about 6 miles (10 k) west of modern Arad, Israel.