Reference: Beersheba
Easton
well of the oath, or well of seven, a well dug by Abraham, and so named because he and Abimelech here entered into a compact (Ge 21:31). On re-opening it, Isaac gave it the same name (Ge 26:31-33). It was a favourite place of abode of both of these patriarchs (Ge 21:33-22:1; 22:19; 26:33; 28:10). It is mentioned among the "cities" given to the tribe of Simeon (Jos 19:2; 1Ch 4:28). From Dan to Beersheba, a distance of about 144 miles (Jg 20:1; 1Ch 21:2; 2Sa 24:2), became the usual way of designating the whole Promised Land, and passed into a proverb. After the return from the Captivity the phrase is narrowed into "from Beersheba unto the valley of Hinnom" (Ne 11:30). The kingdom of the ten tribes extended from Beersheba to Mount Ephraim (2Ch 19:4). The name is not found in the New Testament. It is still called by the Arabs Bir es-Seba, i.e., "well of the seven", where there are to the present day two principal wells and five smaller ones. It is nearly midway between the southern end of the Dead Sea and the Mediterranean.
Illustration: Beersheba Well
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This is why he called that place Beer-sheba, because they swore, both of them, there.
Abraham returned to his young men, and they rose up and went together to Beer-sheba. And Abraham lived at Beer-sheba.
And they rose up early in the morning, and swore to one another. And Isaac sent them away, and they departed from him in peace. And the same day it happened, Isaac's servants came and told him about the well which they had dug. And they said to him, We have found water. read more. And he called it Shebah. Therefore the name of the city is The Well of Sheba to this day.
And he called it Shebah. Therefore the name of the city is The Well of Sheba to this day.
Then all the sons of Israel went out, and the congregation was gathered together as one man, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, with the land of Gilead, to Jehovah in Mizpeh.
And Jehoshaphat lived at Jerusalem. And he went out again among the people from Beer-sheba to mount Ephraim, and brought them back to Jehovah, the God of their fathers.
Zanoah, Adullam, and their villages, at Lachish, and the fields of it, at Azekah, and in its villages. And they lived from Beer-sheba to the valley of Hinnom.
Fausets
Beersheba means "well of the oath". The southern limit of the Holy Land, as Dan in the N.: "from Dan to Beersheba" (compare in David's census, 1Ch 21:2; 2Sa 24:2-7) comprehends the whole. Called so from the oath of peace between Abraham and Abimelech, king of the Philistines (Ge 21:31), else from the seven (sheba' ) ewe lambs slain there: indeed sheba', an oath, is from the custom of binding one's self by seven things, as Abraham made the seven ewe lambs a pledge of his covenant with Abimelech. Again, from the like oath between Abimelech (with Phichol, his captain) and Isaac, it being not uncommon for an event to be recorded as occurring apparently for the first time, which has been recorded as occurring earlier before: so Bethel (Ge 26:31-33).
The well dug by Abraham and secured to him by oath had been covered and lost. It is found by Isaac's servants just after the covenant made between him and Abimelech. The series of events recalls to Isaac's mind the original name and that which gave rise to the name; so he restores both the well itself and the name. Seven (sheba' which also may explain the name) wells are at the place, so that a different one may have been named by Isaac from that named by Abraham. They all pour their streams into the wady es Seba, and are called Bir es seba, the largest 12 ft. diameter, and masonry round reaching 28 ft. down, and 44 from bottom to surface of the water. The second, at a hundred yards distance, 5 in diameter, 42 in depth. The other five further off. The stones around the mouth are worn into grooves by the action of ropes for so many ages. Around the large are nine stone troughs; around the smaller, five.
The water is excellent, and grass with crocuses and lilies abounds. Abraham planted here a" grove" ('eshel) (distinct from the idol grove, Asheerah, or Astarte Baal), or tree, the tamarisk, long living, of hard wood, with long, clustering, evergreen leaves, as a type of the ever enduring grace of the faithful, covenant keeping God (Ge 21:33), "and called on the name (the self manifested character and person) of Jehovah, the everlasting God." (See BAAL.) Here it was that Isaac lived when Jacob stole from his father the blessing already forfeited by Esau's profane sale of his birthright (Ge 26:33,27; 28:10). Long afterward, on Jacob's descent to Egypt, he halted there, sacrificed unto the God of Isaac, and had a vision of God encouraging him to go down. The dispensation of the promise, which began with Abraham's call from Ur to Canaan, ended on the last night of the sojourn of his grandson Israel in Canaan.
So God's promise was repeated for the last time (Ge 46:1-5). Possibly the 430 years (Ga 3:17) dates from this, the end, not from the beginning, of the dispensation of the promise. Beersheba was given to Simeon, in the extreme S. of Judah (Jos 15:28; 19:1-2; 1Ch 4:28). Samuel's sons, Joel and Abiah, were judges there (1Sa 8:2), its distance preventing his going in circuit to it, as he did to others yearly (1Sa 7:16-17). Here Elijah left his confidential servant (narow) on his way to Horeb (1Ki 19:3-4).
From Geba to Beersheba or "from Beersheba to mount Ephraim" was the formula comprehending the southern kingdom of Judah after the severance of Israel's ten tribes (2Ki 23:8; 2Ch 19:4), and on the return from Babylon still narrower, "from Beersheba to the valley of Hinnom" (Ne 11:30). Ahaziah's wife, Zibiah, mother of Joash, was of Beersheba (2Ki 12:1.) It became seat of an idolatry akin to that of Bethel or Gilgal, so that it was a formula of superstition, "the manner (cultus, or religion, as in Ac 9:2 the new religion of Christ is designated "this way") of Beersheba liveth" (Am 5:5; 8:14). In Christian times, it became an episcopal city under the Bishop of Jerusalem.
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This is why he called that place Beer-sheba, because they swore, both of them, there.
This is why he called that place Beer-sheba, because they swore, both of them, there.
And Abraham planted a tree in Beer-sheba, and called there on the name of Jehovah, the everlasting God.
And Abraham planted a tree in Beer-sheba, and called there on the name of Jehovah, the everlasting God.
And Isaac said to them, Why do you come to me, since you hate me and have sent me away from you?
And Isaac said to them, Why do you come to me, since you hate me and have sent me away from you?
And they rose up early in the morning, and swore to one another. And Isaac sent them away, and they departed from him in peace.
And they rose up early in the morning, and swore to one another. And Isaac sent them away, and they departed from him in peace. And the same day it happened, Isaac's servants came and told him about the well which they had dug. And they said to him, We have found water.
And the same day it happened, Isaac's servants came and told him about the well which they had dug. And they said to him, We have found water. And he called it Shebah. Therefore the name of the city is The Well of Sheba to this day.
And he called it Shebah. Therefore the name of the city is The Well of Sheba to this day.
And he called it Shebah. Therefore the name of the city is The Well of Sheba to this day.
And he called it Shebah. Therefore the name of the city is The Well of Sheba to this day.
And Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beer-sheba, and offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac.
And Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beer-sheba, and offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. And God spoke to Israel in the visions of the night, and said, Jacob, Jacob! And he said, Here I am.
And God spoke to Israel in the visions of the night, and said, Jacob, Jacob! And he said, Here I am. And He said, I am God, the God of your fathers. Do not fear to go down into Egypt, for I will make of you a great nation.
And He said, I am God, the God of your fathers. Do not fear to go down into Egypt, for I will make of you a great nation. I will go down with you into Egypt, and I will also surely bring you up again. And Joseph shall put his hand on your eyes.
I will go down with you into Egypt, and I will also surely bring you up again. And Joseph shall put his hand on your eyes. And Jacob rose up from Beer-sheba. And the sons of Israel carried Jacob their father, and their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons which Pharaoh had sent to carry him.
And Jacob rose up from Beer-sheba. And the sons of Israel carried Jacob their father, and their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons which Pharaoh had sent to carry him.
And the second lot came forth to Simeon, for the tribe of the sons of Simeon according to their families. And their inheritance was inside the inheritance of the sons of Judah.
And the second lot came forth to Simeon, for the tribe of the sons of Simeon according to their families. And their inheritance was inside the inheritance of the sons of Judah. And they had in their inheritance Beer-sheba, or Sheba, and Moladah,
And he went from year to year in a circuit to Bethel and Gilgal and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places.
And he went from year to year in a circuit to Bethel and Gilgal and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places. And his return was to Ramah, for his house was there. And he judged Israel there. And he built an altar there to Jehovah.
And his return was to Ramah, for his house was there. And he judged Israel there. And he built an altar there to Jehovah.
And the name of his first-born was Joel, and the name of his second was Abiah, judges in Beer-sheba.
And the name of his first-born was Joel, and the name of his second was Abiah, judges in Beer-sheba.
And he saw, he rose and went for his life, and came to Beer-sheba of Judah, and left his servant there.
And he saw, he rose and went for his life, and came to Beer-sheba of Judah, and left his servant there. And he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he begged for his life, that he might die. And he said, It is enough. O Jehovah, take away my life. For I am no better than my fathers.
And he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he begged for his life, that he might die. And he said, It is enough. O Jehovah, take away my life. For I am no better than my fathers.
And in the seventh year of Jehu, Joash began to reign. And he reigned in Jerusalem forty years. And his mother's name was Zibiah of Beer-sheba.
And in the seventh year of Jehu, Joash began to reign. And he reigned in Jerusalem forty years. And his mother's name was Zibiah of Beer-sheba.
And he brought all the priests out of the cities of Judah, and defiled the high places where the priests had burned incense, from Geba to Beer-sheba. And he broke down the high places of the gates which were in the entering in of the gate of Joshua the governor of the city, which were on a man's left hand at the gate of the city.
And he brought all the priests out of the cities of Judah, and defiled the high places where the priests had burned incense, from Geba to Beer-sheba. And he broke down the high places of the gates which were in the entering in of the gate of Joshua the governor of the city, which were on a man's left hand at the gate of the city.
And David said to Joab and to the rulers of the people, Go number Israel from Beer-sheba to Dan. And bring the number of them to me so that I may know.
And David said to Joab and to the rulers of the people, Go number Israel from Beer-sheba to Dan. And bring the number of them to me so that I may know.
Zanoah, Adullam, and their villages, at Lachish, and the fields of it, at Azekah, and in its villages. And they lived from Beer-sheba to the valley of Hinnom.
Zanoah, Adullam, and their villages, at Lachish, and the fields of it, at Azekah, and in its villages. And they lived from Beer-sheba to the valley of Hinnom.
But do not seek Bethel nor enter into Gilgal, and do not pass to Beer-sheba; for Gilgal shall surely go into exile, and Bethel shall come to nothing.
But do not seek Bethel nor enter into Gilgal, and do not pass to Beer-sheba; for Gilgal shall surely go into exile, and Bethel shall come to nothing.
They who swear by the sin of Samaria and say, As your god lives, O Dan; and, As the way of Beer-sheba lives; even they shall fall and never rise up again.
They who swear by the sin of Samaria and say, As your god lives, O Dan; and, As the way of Beer-sheba lives; even they shall fall and never rise up again.
and asked letters from him to Damascus to the synagogues; so that if he found any of the Way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
and asked letters from him to Damascus to the synagogues; so that if he found any of the Way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
And I say this, A covenant having been ratified by God in Christ, the Law (coming into being four hundred and thirty years after) does not annul the promise, so as to abolish it.
And I say this, A covenant having been ratified by God in Christ, the Law (coming into being four hundred and thirty years after) does not annul the promise, so as to abolish it.
Hastings
A halting-place of Abraham (Ge 21:31), where Hagar was sent away (Ge 21:14), and where he made a covenant with Abimelech, from which the place is alleged to take its name ('well of the covenant,' according to one interpretation). Isaac after his disputes with the Philistines settled here (Ge 26:23), and discovered the well Shibah, another etymological speculation (Ge 26:33). Hence Jacob was sent away (Ge 28:10), and returned and sacrificed on his way to Egypt (Ge 46:1). It was assigned to the tribe of Judah (Jos 15:28), but set apart for the Simeonites (Jos 19:2). Here Samuel's sons were judges (1Sa 8:2), and hither Elijah fled before Jezebel (1Ki 19:3). Zibiah, the mother of Joash, belonged to Beersheba (2Ki 12:1). It was an important holy place: here Abraham planted a sacred tree (Ge 21:33), and theophanies were vouchsafed to Hagar (Ge 21:17), to Isaac (Ge 26:24), to Jacob (Ge 46:2), and to Elijah (1Ki 19:5). Amos couples it with the shrines of Bethel and Gilgal (Am 5:6), and oaths by its numen are denounced (Am 8:14). It is recognized as the southern boundary of Palestine in the frequent phrase 'from Dan unto Beersheba' (Jg 20:1 etc.). Seven ancient wells exist here, and it has been suggested that these gave its name to the locality; the suffixed numeral being perhaps due to the influence of the syntax of some pre-Semitic language, as in Kiriath-arba ('Tetrapolis'). The modern name is Bir es-Seba', where are extensive remains of a Byzantine city; the ancient city is probably at Tell es-Seba', about 2 miles to the east. Till recently the site was deserted by all but Bedouin; now a modern town has sprung up, built from the ruins of the ancient structures, and has been made the seat of a sub-governor.
R. A. S. Macalister.
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And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread and a bottle of water, and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder. And he gave her the boy, and sent her away. And she departed and wandered in the wilderness of Beer-sheba.
And God heard the voice of the boy, and the angel of God called to Hagar out of the heavens, and said to her, What ails you, Hagar? Do not fear, for God has heard the voice of the boy where he is.
This is why he called that place Beer-sheba, because they swore, both of them, there.
And Abraham planted a tree in Beer-sheba, and called there on the name of Jehovah, the everlasting God.
And he went from there to Beer-sheba. And Jehovah appeared to him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham your father. Do not fear, for I am with you, and will bless you and multiply your seed for My servant Abraham's sake.
And he called it Shebah. Therefore the name of the city is The Well of Sheba to this day.
And Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beer-sheba, and offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. And God spoke to Israel in the visions of the night, and said, Jacob, Jacob! And he said, Here I am.
Then all the sons of Israel went out, and the congregation was gathered together as one man, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, with the land of Gilead, to Jehovah in Mizpeh.
And the name of his first-born was Joel, and the name of his second was Abiah, judges in Beer-sheba.
And he saw, he rose and went for his life, and came to Beer-sheba of Judah, and left his servant there.
And as he lay and slept under a broom tree, behold, then an angel touched him and said to him, Arise, eat.
And in the seventh year of Jehu, Joash began to reign. And he reigned in Jerusalem forty years. And his mother's name was Zibiah of Beer-sheba.
Seek Jehovah, and you shall live; lest He break out like a fire on the house of Joseph and devour it, and there be none to put it out in Bethel.
They who swear by the sin of Samaria and say, As your god lives, O Dan; and, As the way of Beer-sheba lives; even they shall fall and never rise up again.
Morish
Beer'-sheba
This name, signifying well of the oath, was given to the place where Abraham and Abimelech made a covenant not to molest each other, and confirmed it by an oath. It afterwards became the dwelling place of Abraham and of Isaac, who also digged a well there, and a city is spoken of as bearing the same name. Ge 21:14,31-33; 22:19; 26:23,33; 28:10. It became a part of Simeon's lot, Jos 19:1-2; and after the settlement of the land it is constantly referred to as the most southern part of the land possessed, as Dan is pointed to as the most northern; thus 'from Dan to Beer-sheba' was the common expression for the whole territory even in the days of Solomon. 1 Kings 4:25.
The prophet Amos warns the people not to trust in any places of renown or of former blessing, as Bethel, Gilgal, nor Beersheba; the glory of all had faded: they must seek Jehovah, and they should live. Am 5:5,Am 5:6; 8:14. On the return of the exiles some of them dwelt at Beer-sheba, and from thence northward to the valley of Hinnom. Ne 11:27,30. Beer-sheba is identified with Bir es Seba, 31 15' N, 34 48' E. There are still two principal wells in the district giving excellent water, besides five smaller ones.
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And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread and a bottle of water, and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder. And he gave her the boy, and sent her away. And she departed and wandered in the wilderness of Beer-sheba.
This is why he called that place Beer-sheba, because they swore, both of them, there. So they made a covenant at Beer-sheba. Then Abimelech and Phicol, the commander of his army, rose up. And they returned to the land of the Philistines. read more. And Abraham planted a tree in Beer-sheba, and called there on the name of Jehovah, the everlasting God.
Abraham returned to his young men, and they rose up and went together to Beer-sheba. And Abraham lived at Beer-sheba.
And he called it Shebah. Therefore the name of the city is The Well of Sheba to this day.
And the second lot came forth to Simeon, for the tribe of the sons of Simeon according to their families. And their inheritance was inside the inheritance of the sons of Judah. And they had in their inheritance Beer-sheba, or Sheba, and Moladah,
Zanoah, Adullam, and their villages, at Lachish, and the fields of it, at Azekah, and in its villages. And they lived from Beer-sheba to the valley of Hinnom.
But do not seek Bethel nor enter into Gilgal, and do not pass to Beer-sheba; for Gilgal shall surely go into exile, and Bethel shall come to nothing. Seek Jehovah, and you shall live; lest He break out like a fire on the house of Joseph and devour it, and there be none to put it out in Bethel.
They who swear by the sin of Samaria and say, As your god lives, O Dan; and, As the way of Beer-sheba lives; even they shall fall and never rise up again.
Watsons
BEERSHEBA, or the well of the oath; so named from a well which Abraham dug in this place, and the covenant which he here made with Abimelech, king of Gerar, Ge 20:18. Here also he planted a grove, as it would appear, for the purpose of retirement for religious worship. In process of time, a considerable town was built on the same spot, which retained the same name. Beersheba was given by Joshua to the tribe of Judah, and afterward transferred to Simeon, Jos 15:28. It was situated twenty miles south of Hebron, in the extreme south of the land of Israel, as Dan was on the north. The two places are frequently thus mentioned in Scripture, as "from Dan to Beersheba," to denote the whole length of the country.
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For the Lord had closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech because of Sarah, Abraham's wife.