Natural beauty of the Sorek Cave stalactites in the Judean Mountains near Beit Shemesh, Israel
Natural beauty of the Soreq Cave (aka Sorek or Avshalom) stalactites in the Judean Mountains near Beit Shemesh, Israel

Notable
Caves in the Bible

Caves were frequently used as dwelling-places in biblical times (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 Israel and of Syria, many of which have been artificially enlarged for various purposes.

Lot’s cave

The first mention of a cave in Scripture occurs in the history of Lot, son of Haran.

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

Cave of Machpelah

The Cave of Machpelah (Hebrew: מערת המכפלה —transliteration: Ma'arat HaMachpelah) was purchased Abraham from the sons of Heth (Genesis 25:9-10). Is actually a series of caves. They are now located in the Old City of Hebron and are called the Cave of the Patriarchs.

This was the burial place of Sarah who died nearby at the age of 127 years. Abraham himself was later buried here at the age of 175 years, and later his son Isaac who died at 180 years old, and Isaac’s wives Rebekah, Leah, and his son Jacob/Israel (Genesis 49:31; 50:13).

Presumably Jacob’s son Joseph was also buried here many years later, having died in Egypt, he was then embalmed and carried back to the Promised Land in the Israelite exodus. Abraham’s son Ishmael, having lived 137 years, is also presumably buried here, however, many Muslims are told that he is buried in Mecca in the Hijr Ismail. However, this seems very unlikely unless the body was moved many centuries after his death, for Mecca did not exist at the time of Ishmael. It came far later in history. The Bible does not say where he was buried, but it does tell us that he and Isaac buried their father Abraham “in the cave of Machpelah in the field of Ephron” (Genesis 25:9), and he certainly knew that this was the family’s burial place.

The site is still venerated. For observant Jews, it is their 2nd most holy place, after the Temple site on Mount Zion. It is also sacred to Muslims, because Arabs identify as descendants of Abraham. Over top of the cave was built the Ibrahimi Mosque, converted from an ancient monument building standing there.

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.

Cave of Makkedah

The Cave of Makkedah is where the 5 Amorite kings retreated after their defeat by Joshua, an captured and buried (Joshua 10:16, 27).

Cave of Adullam

The Cave of Adullam is an immense natural cavern, where David hid himself from King Saul. Here many men joined him.

So David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam; and when his brothers and all his father’s household heard of it, they went down there to him. Everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to him; and he became captain over them. Now there were about four hundred men with him. —1 Samuel 22:1-2

Cave of Engedi

The Cave of Engedi is now called Ein Gedi or 'Ain Jidy, meaning “spring of the kid”, or the “fountain of the kid”.

This cave is where David cut off the edge of King Saul’s robe while he slept.

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.’”

David arose and cut off the edge of Saul’s robe secretly. —1 Samuel 24:4 LSB

Here David found a shelter for himself and his many 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.

Pan’s Cave at Caesara Philippi

What is Caesara Philippi?

Prophets cave of chief Obadiah

This is the cave in which Obadiah hid the prophets from King Ahab (1 Kings 18:4). Obadiah hid 100 prophets this way.

It was probably in northern Israel, but it has not yet been identified.

Elijah’s cave

This is where the famed 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

Moses Cleft on Mount Horeb / Mt. Sinai

This is where Moses was shielded 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

Manasseh caves

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

also known as: Shemurat Me‘arat Soreq, Sorek Cave, Avshalom Cave or Stalactites Cave

Soreq Cave (aka Avshalom Cave) at ancient Sorek, near Bet Shemesh, Israel. Photo by Sir_Joseph. Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported
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

Soreq Cave covers 5,000 square meters and is densely filled with stalactites, stalagmites, and other cave formations. It is just south of the Nahal Sorek (Soreq Stream) and is located on the western side of Mount Ye'ela near modern Beit Shemesh, Israel (aka Bet Shemesh), the site of Tel Beit Shemesh (ancient Beth Shemesh), a biblical city of the Tribe of Judah. Across the valley is Mount Tzora (aka Zorah) where Samson’s Tomb is marked next to a smaller named Sameson’s Cave. The Biblical Museum of Natural History is located just north of Beit Shemesh (Bet Shemesh).

Twins Cave

Located east of Beit Shemesh, Israel and south of Soreq Cave.

Bnei Brit Cave

also known as: Me‘arat Bené Berit

This smaller cave is east of Ksalon, Israel and is several miles north of Soreq Stalactites Cave.

Zedekiah’s Cave

also known as: Solomon's Quarries, Zedekiah's Grotto, Suleiman's Cave, Royal Caverns, Royal Caves or Royal Quarries, and Korah's Cave

This is a man-made underground cave located in the Old City of Jerusalem. It is a 5-acre (20,000 square meter) ancient limestone quarry that runs the length of five city blocks. Its name comes from the Judean King Zedekiah. It was carved out over a few thousand years.

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Article Version: October 17, 2025