HORMA (Hebrew Hormāh). - A Canaanite city, originally Sephaath, but, by anticipation, always referred to by the name, applied by the Israelites, of H. from the "extermination" (herem, v.) carried out there during the occupation (Num. 21:1-3; Judg. 1:17).
H. is recalled in three biblical episodes. First, in the Israelites' attempt to penetrate the land of Canaan from the south, which failed because of the resistance of the Amalekites and Canaanites, who drove them back as far as H. (Num. 14:39-45). Then in the new attempt, presented as a revenge for the first defeat (Num. 21:1-3), but which was not followed by occupation, unless one should see in it the same episode where the defeat, as in other similar cases, is colored by the later victory. This was won when from Jericho the tribes of Judah and Simeon advanced into the south, took possession of the city and devoted it to the ban, replacing the sad name of Sephaath with the glorious one of H. (Judg. 1:17). H. then took on new life in the tribe of Judah and Simeon (Josh. 15:30; 19:4).
From the body of the biblical texts (Josh. 12:14; 1 Chron. 4:30) it must be sought within the radius of Beersheba. The proposed identification with Sbejtah, 35 km south of Beersheba, implies too great a distance and is not confirmed by archaeology, which ascribes its origin to the Nabataeans. The site of Tell es-Seba, also called Tell Mūsā, 5 km south of Beersheba, proposed by Alt, corresponds well to the historical and archaeological requirements.