According to the Bible, Beersheva was the southernmost city of the territories actually settled by Israelites, hence the expression "from Dan to Beersheva" to describe the whole kingdom.Beersheva is mentioned in the Book of Genesis in connection with Abraham the Patriarch and his pact with Abimelech. Isaac built an altar in Beersheba. Jacob had his dream about a stairway to heaven after leaving Beersheva.