Lexical Definition
בְּאֵר שֶׁבַע Bᵉʼêr Shebaʻ (be-ayr' sheh'-bah) Beersheba N:N--L
from בְּאֵר and שֶׁבַע (in the sense of שָׁבַע); well of an oath
Beer-shebah.
- § Beer-sheba = "well of the sevenfold oath"
- Beer-Sheba, a place in Palestine
1) a city at the south edge of Israel
Brown-Driver-Briggs
בְּאֵר שֶׁ֫בַע proper name, of a location Beersheba (well of seven, explained Gen 21:30; Gen 21:31 as place of swearing by seven lambs, or, well of oath, see שְׁבֻעָה; compare same meaning otherwise derived Gen 26:33) — בְּאֵר שֶׁבַע Gen 26:33 + 13 t., בְּאֵרשֶֿׁבַע Josh 19:2 בְּאֵר שָׁ֑בַע Gen 21:14 + 18 t.; בְּאֵ֫רָה שֶׁבַע (ָ ה locative) Gen 46:1 — south from Hebron, according to Onomasticon approximately 20 miles LagOnom. 103, 234, 2nd ed. 138, 248; modern Bîr-es-Seba, 12 hours from Hebron RobBR i. 204 f. Surveyiii. 394 Gen 21:14; Gen 21:31; Gen 21:32; Gen 21:33; Gen 22:19 (twice in verse); Gen 26:23; Gen 26:33; Gen 28:10; Gen 46:1; Gen 46:5; Josh 15:28; Josh 19:2; Judg 20:1; 1Sam 3:20; 1Sam 8:2; 2Sam 17:11; 2Sam 24:7; 1Kgs 19:3; 2Kgs 12:2*; 2Kgs 23:8; 2Kgs 1:28; 2Kgs 2:4; 2Kgs 24:1; in phrase ׳מִדָּן וְעַדבּֿ from Dan to Beersheba (i.e. all the territory of Israel, see דָּן) Amos 8:14; Judg 20:1; 1Sam 3:20; 2Sam 3:10; 2Sam 17:11; 2Sam 24:2; 2Sam 24:15; 1Kgs 5:5*, & (only Chronicles) מִבְּאֵר שֶׁבַע וְעַדדָּֿן from Beersheba to Dan 1Chr 21:2; 2Chr 30:5.
Brown-Driver-Briggs References
| Book | Refs |
|---|---|
| Genesis | 21:14 · 21:30 · 21:31 · 21:32 · 21:33 · 22:19 · 26:23 · 26:33 · 28:10 · 46:1 · 46:5 |
| Joshua | 15:28 · 19:2 |
| Judges | 20:1 |
| 1 Samuel | 3:20 · 8:2 |
| 2 Samuel | 3:10 · 17:11 · 24:2 · 24:7 · 24:15 |
| 1 Kings | 5:5* · 19:3 |
| 2 Kings | 1:28 · 2:4 · 12:2* · 23:8 · 24:1 |
| 1 Chronicles | 21:2 |
| 2 Chronicles | 30:5 |
| Amos | 8:14 |
Profile
Beersheba • Important city in southern Israel, associated with the patriarchs.
Beersheba (Sheba or Shibah) was an important city in southern Israel, associated with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. (Multiple references, see article for details)
- A location first mentioned at Gen.21.14;
- referred to as Beersheba בְּאֵר שֶׁבַע, or Sheba שֶׁבַע, or Shibah שִׁבְעָה.
Beersheba, also known as Sheba or Shibah, was a significant city located in the Negev region of southern Israel. It is mentioned numerous times throughout the Old Testament and is closely associated with the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Israel (or 'Jacob').
The name "Beersheba" first appears in Genesis 21:31, where Abraham named the place after making a covenant with Abimelech, the king of Gerar. The name means "well of seven" or "well of the oath," referring to the seven ewe lambs that Abraham gave to Abimelech as a witness to the covenant (Genesis 21:28-31).
Abraham lived in Beersheba for a time (Genesis 22:19), and it was from there that he set out to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice in the land of Moriah (Genesis 22:1-19). Isaac also lived in Beersheba, where he built an altar and called upon the name of the Lord (Genesis 26:23-25, 33). Jacob left Beersheba to go to Haran (Genesis 28:10) and later returned there to offer sacrifices to God before going to Egypt (Genesis 46:1, 5).
In the later history of Israel, Beersheba marked the southern extent of the nation, as seen in the phrase "from Dan to Beersheba" (Judges 20:1; 1 Samuel 3:20; 2 Samuel 3:10; 17:11; 24:2, 15; 1 Kings 4:25). The city was allotted to the tribe of Simeon (Joshua 19:2) and became part of the kingdom of Judah (2 Samuel 24:7).
Beersheba was also a center of idolatry, as evidenced by the references to the "way of Beersheba" (Amos 8:14) and the "sin of Samaria" (Amos 5:5). King Josiah removed the idolatrous priests and destroyed the high places from Geba to Beersheba as part of his religious reforms (2 Kings 23:8).
In summary, Beersheba was a prominent city in the Negev, serving as a key location in the lives of the patriarchs and later as a boundary marker for the nation of Israel. Its history was marked by both faithfulness to God and idolatry.
All entries for Beersheba or Sheba or Shibah: בְּאֵר שֶׁבַע ☩ שֶׁבַע ☩ שִׁבְעָה