Where did Yehuda go?
After Yosef was sold, we read about Yehuda going down from Dotan to Adullam (Breisheet 38:1):
It was at that time that Yehuda went down from his brothers and camped near an Adullamite named Hira.
Rashi comments that this narrative is placed here to teach that Yehuda’s brothers demoted him from his important position. When they saw the anguish of their father they said, “You advised us to sell him. Had you advised us to return him we would have listened to you.”
Where did Yehuda go?
Yehuda went to Adullam which is located in the Judean hills, in the area of the Shfela, the lowland, between Emek HaEla (where David later fought Goliath) and Beit Guvrin-Morasha, the famous national park that is known today for its caves and archeology.
We read in the Book of Yehoshua about the 31 C’naanite kings that Yehoshua defeated including the King of Adullam (Yehoshua 12:15). The land was then given to the tribe of Yehuda.
King David was also in this region when he escaped to a cave in Adullam while being pursued by King Saul (Shmuel I: 22:1-2):
David made his way out of there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and his father’s household heard, they went down to him there. Everyone who was distressed and everyone in debt and every wretched, bitter soul gathered to him. He became their leader; about 400 men were with him.
We read about David escaping to the cave in Tehillim 57:1:
To the chief Musician: A plea to be spared from destruction, by David, when he fled from Saul in the cave.
The Biblical city of Adullan, lies 7 kilometers southwest of Timna (mentioned in Breisheet 38:12):
…When Yehuda completed his time of mourning, he and his neighbor Hira, the Adullamite went up to join his sheepshearers in Timna.
Rashi points out that Yehuda went to oversee the sheep shearing.
Ramban adds that the sheep shearing of a prominent man was a festive occasion that was accompanied by a public feast for the poor.
The region has once again come to life. Adullam is south of Beit Shemesh and west of Gush Etzion. Aderet, Aviezer and Neve Michael are located nearby. It is a beautiful spot to go touring with breathtaking views. Check it out when you are in the area!
