Tel Be'er Sheva is located in the Northern part of the Negev Desert, about 35 or 40 miles southwest of Jerusalem. The tel was first settled in the 10th century BCE, with at least nine distinct occupation layers built on the site through the 7th century. The early settlement grew into an administrative city with a solid wall during the time of David and Solomon. The gate complex is a remnant of this level. The city was well-planned, with streets and buildings laid out in an ordered plan that was followed in all of the later building projects. The city was completely rebuilt in the 8th century BCE and was renovated again in the later part of that century, possibly during the reign of Hezekiah. This city had casemate walls and still served as an administrative center of some kind. The city was destroyed in 701 BCE by Sennacherib, and was abandoned for a few hundred years. Later occupation layers from the Hellenistic, Herodian, and Roman periods all involve fortresses. The city was later relocated further west, where it sits today.
Link: Jewish Virtual Library.
Link: Wikipedia entry.
