beersheba Summary and Overview

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 (Gen. 21:31). On re-opening it, Isaac gave it the same name (Gen. 26:31-33). It was a favourite place of abode of both of these patriarchs (21:33-22:1, 19; 26:33; 28:10). It is mentioned among the "cities" given to the tribe of Simeon (Josh. 19:2; 1 Chr. 4:28). From Dan to Beersheba, a distance of about 144 miles (Judg. 20:1; 1 Chr. 21:2; 2 Sam. 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" (Neh. 11:30). The kingdom of the ten tribes extended from Beersheba to Mount Ephraim (2 Chr. 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.

Beer-sheba (well of the oath), the name of one of the old places in Israel which formed the southern limit of the country. There are two accounts of the origin of the name. According to the first, the well was dug by Abraham, and the name given to Judah, #Jos 15:28| and then to Simeon, #Jos 19:2; 1Ch 4:28| In the often-quoted "from Dan even unto Beersheba," #Jud 20:1| it represents the southern boundary of Canaan, as Dan the northern. In the time of Jerome it was still a considerable place, and still retains its ancient name --Bir es-Seba. There are at present on the spot two principal wells and five smaller ones. The two principal wells are on or close to the northern bank of the Wady es-Seba. The larger of the two, which lies to the east, is, according to Dr. Robinson, 12 1/2 feet in diameter, and at the time of his visit (April 12) was 44 1/2 feet to the surface of the water. The masonry which encloses the well extends downward 28 1/2 feet. The other well is 5 feet in diameter, and was 42 feet to the water. The curb-stones around the mouth of both wells are worn into deep grooves by the action of the ropes of so many centures. These wells are in constant use today. The five lesser wells are in a group in the bed of the wady. On some low hills north of the large wells are scattered the foundations and ruins of a town of moderate size.

BE'ER-SHE'BA (well of seven, or of oath), a city on the southern border of Canaan, 25 miles south-west of Hebron, on a line between the uplands and the desert. It is named 33 times in the Bible; only in the O. T. History. -- It was first named by Abraham, Gen 21:31-33, who lived there, Gen 22:19; was re-named by Isaac,Gen 26:33, and was then a city; visited by Jacob, Gen 28:10; Gen 46:1; given to Judah, Josh 15:28; afterward to Simeon, Josh 19:2; 1 Chr 4:28; a place where judges held court, 1 Sam 8:2; often noted as the southern limit of Canaan, as Dan was the northern -- "Dan even to Beersheba," Jud 20:1; 1 Sam 3:20; 2 Sam 3:10; 2 Sam 17:11; 1 Kgs 4:25; 1 Chr 21:2, etc.; a place of idolatrous worship, Am 5:5; Am 8:14; was peopled after the Captivity, Neh 11:30; was a city in Jerome's time; now in ruins, but retains its ancient name, Bir-es-seha. Wells and Ruins. -- There are two large wells 300 feet apart, and five smaller ones some distance down the valley. The larger of the two chief wells is 12 1/2 feet in diameter and 38 to 45 feet deep to the water, 16 feet of the lower portion being dug into solid rock, and the portion above this rock walled up with square hewn stones, hard as marble. The ropes of water-drawers for 4000 years have worn over 140 furrows in the face of the stones, some of them 4 inches deep. The second well is smaller, being only about 5 feet in diameter and 42 feet deep. Around the wells are 10 or 12 stone troughs, of oblong and irregular shape, for the use of cattle. All day long Arab herdsmen and women are drawing water in skins to fill the troughs, as in the days of Abraham and Isaac.

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, 1 Chronicles 21:2; 2 Samuel 24:2-7) comprehends the whole. Called so from the oath of peace between Abraham and Abimelech, king of the Philistines (Genesis 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 (Genesis 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 (Genesis 21:33), "and called on the name (the self manifested character and person) of Jehovah, the everlasting God." frontBAAL.) Here it was that Isaac lived when Jacob stole from his father the blessing already forfeited by Esau's profane sale of his birthright (Genesis 26:33; Genesis 26:27; Genesis 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 (Genesis 46:1-5). Possibly the 430 years (Galatians 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 (Joshua 15:28; Joshua 19:1-2; 1 Chronicles 4:28). Samuel's sons, Joel and Abiah, were judges there (1 Samuel 8:2), its distance preventing his going in circuit to it, as he did to others yearly (1 Samuel 7:16-17). Here Elijah left his confidential servant (narow) on his way to Horeb (1 Kings 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 (2 Kings 23:8; 2 Chronicles 19:4), and on the return from Babylon still narrower, "from Beersheba to the valley of Hinnom" (Nehemiah 11:30). Ahaziah's wife, Zibiah, mother of Joash, was of Beersheba (2 Kings 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 Acts 9:2 the new religion of Christ is designated "this way") of Beersheba liveth" (Amos 5:5; Amos 8:14). In Christian times, it became an episcopal city under the Bishop of Jerusalem.