Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Etymology:In the context of the Bible, "Beer" is not a reference to the alcoholic beverage commonly known today, but rather a term used to denote a "well" or "spring" in Hebrew. The word "Beer" (בְּאֵר) is derived from the Hebrew root meaning "to dig" or "to bore," indicating a place where water is drawn from the ground.
Biblical References:The term "Beer" appears in several instances throughout the Old Testament, often as part of place names. These locations are significant in the narrative of the Israelites and their journey through the wilderness.
1.
Beer in the Wilderness Journey: One notable mention of Beer is found in
Numbers 21:16-18. Here, Beer is identified as a place where the Israelites camped during their wilderness journey. The passage states: "From there they went on to Beer, the well where the LORD said to Moses, 'Gather the people so that I may give them water.' Then Israel sang this song: 'Spring up, O well, all of you sing to it— the well that the princes dug, that the nobles of the people sank with their scepters and their staffs.'" (
Numbers 21:16-18). This event highlights God's provision for His people, supplying them with water in a barren land.
2.
Beer as a Place of Refuge: Another mention of Beer is found in
Judges 9:21, where it serves as a place of refuge. After Abimelech's violent rise to power, Jotham, the youngest son of Jerubbaal (Gideon), fled to Beer to escape Abimelech's wrath: "Then Jotham ran away, escaping to Beer, and he lived there for fear of his brother Abimelech." (
Judges 9:21). This reference underscores the use of Beer as a safe haven during times of political turmoil.
Theological Significance:The references to Beer in the Bible, while seemingly minor, carry theological significance. They serve as reminders of God's faithfulness and provision. In
Numbers 21, the well at Beer is a testament to God's miraculous provision of water, a vital resource for survival, symbolizing His care and sustenance for His people. The song sung by the Israelites at Beer reflects a moment of communal worship and gratitude, acknowledging God's ongoing support during their journey.
In Judges, Beer as a place of refuge for Jotham illustrates the theme of divine protection. Despite the chaos and danger posed by Abimelech's rule, Beer becomes a sanctuary, highlighting God's ability to provide safety and shelter in times of distress.
Cultural and Historical Context:In ancient Near Eastern cultures, wells and springs were crucial for survival, especially in arid regions. They were often central to community life, serving as gathering places and sources of sustenance. The biblical mentions of Beer align with this cultural understanding, emphasizing the importance of water sources in the daily life and spiritual journey of the Israelites.
Conclusion:While the term "Beer" may not be as prominent as other biblical locations, its appearances in Scripture are rich with meaning. They remind readers of God's provision, protection, and the centrality of water as a symbol of life and blessing in the biblical narrative.
Topical Bible Verses
Proverbs 20:1Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
Topicalbible.orgEphesians 5:18
And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
Topicalbible.org
Leviticus 10:9
Do not drink wine nor strong drink, you, nor your sons with you, when you go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest you die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations:
Topicalbible.org
Luke 21:34
And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come on you unawares.
Topicalbible.org
Isaiah 5:22
Woe to them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink:
Topicalbible.org
Isaiah 5:11
Woe to them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them!
Topicalbible.org
Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary
Beera well
Smith's Bible Dictionary
Beer(a well).
- One of the latest halting-places of the Israelites, lying beyond the Arnon. (Numbers 21:16-18) This is possibly the BEER-ELIM of (Isaiah 15:8)
- A place to which Jotham, the son of Gideon, fled for fear of his brother Abimelech. (Judges 9:21)
ATS Bible Dictionary
BeerA well,
1. A station of the Hebrews in Moab, where God gave them water,Numbers 21:16-18;Isaiah 15:8.
2. A town in Judah, according to Eusebius and Jerome a few miles west of Jerusalem, near Beth-shemesh. Jotham took refuge there from his brother Abimelech, Jud 9:21.
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Well.
(1.) A place where a well was dug by the direction of Moses, at the forty-fourth station of the Hebrews in their wanderings (Numbers 21:16-18) in the wilderness of Moab. (seeWELL.)
(2.) A town in the tribe of Judah to which Jotham fled for fear of Abimelech (Judges 9:21). Some have identified this place with Beeroth.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) A fermented liquor made from any malted grain, but commonly from barley malt, with hops or some other substance to impart a bitter flavor.
2. (n.) A fermented extract of the roots and other parts of various plants, as spruce, ginger, sassafras, etc.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
BEERbe'-er (be'er; phrear; Latin puteus = "well"):
(1) A station on the march of the Israelites to the North of the Arnon (Numbers 21:16). Here it was that they sang round the well this song: `Spring up O well; greet it with song, Well, that the princes have dug, The nobles of the people have bored, With the scepter-with their staves' (Numbers 21:16). The place is not identified.
(2) The town to which Jotham fled from his brother Abimelech after declaring his parable from Mt. Gerizim (Judges 9:21). This may be identical with BEEROTH, which see.
Strong's Hebrew
883.Beer Lachay Roi -- "well of the living One that sees me," a...Beer Lachay Roi. 882, 883.
Beer Lachay Roi. 884 . "well of the living
One that sees me," a place in the desert. Transliteration
...876.Beer -- "well," a place in the desert, also one in Palestine
... 875, 876.Beer. 877 . "well," a place in the desert, also one in Palestine.
Transliteration:Beer Phonetic Spelling: (be-ayr') Short Definition:Beer....
879.Beer Elim -- "well of heroes," a city of Moab
Beer Elim. 878, 879.Beer Elim. 880 . "well of heroes," a city of Moab.
Transliteration:Beer Elim Phonetic Spelling: (be-ayr' ay...
1192. BaalathBeer -- "mistress of a well," a city in Simeon
BaalathBeer. 1191, 1192. BaalathBeer. 1193 . "mistress of a well,"
a city in Simeon. Transliteration: BaalathBeer Phonetic...
884.Beer Sheba -- "well of seven," a place in the Negev
Beer Sheba. 883, 884.Beer Sheba. 885 . "well of seven," a place in the
Negev. Transliteration:Beer Sheba Phonetic Spelling: (be...
875.beer -- a well, pit
... 874, 875.beer. 876 . a well, pit. Transliteration:beer Phonetic Spelling:
(be-ayr') Short Definition: well.... 874, 875.beer. 876 . Strong's Numbers.
47. abbir -- mighty, valiant
... 46, 47. abbir. 48 . mighty, valiant. Transliteration: abbir Phonetic Spelling:
(ab-beer') Short Definition: stallions. Word Origin...
4342. makbir -- abundance
... 4341, 4342. makbir. 4343 . abundance. Transliteration: makbir Phonetic Spelling:
(mak-beer') Short Definition: abundance. Word Origin from kabar, qv. abundance...
1306. Birsha -- a king of Gomorrah
... 1305, 1306. Birsha. 1307 . a king of Gomorrah. Transliteration: Birsha
Phonetic Spelling: (beer-shah') Short Definition: Birsha....
1269. Birzoth -- a descendant of Asher
... 1268, 1269. Birzoth. 1270 . a descendant of Asher. Transliteration: Birzoth
Phonetic Spelling: (beer-zoth') Short Definition: Birzaith....
Library
The Card Parties
... And when the report concerning his intense desire to become a man was circulated
among them, they urged him to drinkbeer, saying that it would make him more...
Chapter twenty-eight
... The first thing he noticed was abeer sign just across the alley.... A strong
odor ofbeer floated up to Burns as he stood on the steps....
A Few Nights after This, Diamond Woke up Suddenly...
... "Poor daddy! Baby's daddy takes too muchbeer and gin, and that makes him
somebody else, and not his own self at all. Baby's daddy...
List of Authorities
... Barclay: City of the Great King.Beer: Leben Abraham's.Beer: Leben Mosis.Beer,
P.: Geschichte d. relig. Sekten d. Juden. Bengel: Gnomon Novi Testamenti....
Drunkenness.
... Milwaukee, Wisconsin, one of the oldest and most successful Companies in the Northwest,
has lived for nearly forty years next neighbor to lagerbeer interests....
The Larger Part of Womankind, However, have had to Fight for...
... These women are not exasperated merely at the amount of money that is wasted in
beer; they are exasperated also at the amount of time that is wasted in talk....
Leaving Home
... Because of this his tobacco andbeer bills increased, and to this alarming expenditure
he added many accounts for whiskey. John had made a discovery....
Off Duty
... The tobacco smoke, the sickly smell ofbeer, and the coarse jests that fell upon
her ears; but her spirit rose to the attack in the name of the Lord, as the...
Thou Shalt not Steal.
... is to signify not only to empty our neighbor's coffer and pockets, but to be grasping
in the market, in all stores, booths, wine- andbeer-cellars, workshops...
Trophies of Grace
... At five years of age wee boy Shepherd was carried home drunk, for men had stood
him on a bench in the tap room and 'filled him up withbeer.' He drank for...
Thesaurus
Beer (15 Occurrences)... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
BEER.
... Multi-Version Concordance
Beer (15 Occurrences).
Genesis 16:14 Therefore the well was called
Beer Lahai Roi.
...Beer-sheba (33 Occurrences)
Beer-sheba. Beersheba,Beer-sheba. Bees . Multi-Version Concordance
Beer-sheba (33 Occurrences). Genesis 21:14 And Abraham...
Beer-elim (1 Occurrence)
Beer-elim. Beerelim,Beer-elim.Beer-e'lim . Easton's Bible Dictionary
Well of heroes, probably the name given toBeer, the place...
Baalath-beer (2 Occurrences)
Baalath-beer. Baalathbeer, Baalath-beer. Ba'alath-beer . Easton's Bible
Dictionary... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. BAALATH-BEER....
Beer-lahai-roi (3 Occurrences)
Beer-lahai-roi. Beerlahairoi,Beer-lahai-roi.Beer-la'hai-roi . Easton's Bible
Dictionary... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.BEER-LAHAI-ROI....
Beer-la'hai-roi (3 Occurrences)
Beer-la'hai-roi.Beer-lahai-roi,Beer-la'hai-roi.Beer-la-hai-roi .
Multi-Version ConcordanceBeer-la'hai-roi (3 Occurrences). Genesis...
Baalath-beer-ramah (1 Occurrence)
Baalath-beer-ramah. Ba'alath-beer, Baalath-beer-ramah. Baalbec .
Multi-Version Concordance Baalath-beer-ramah (1 Occurrence)....
Ba'alath-beer (1 Occurrence)
Ba'alath-beer. Baalath-beer, Ba'alath-beer. Baalath-beer-ramah .
Multi-Version Concordance Ba'alath-beer (1 Occurrence). Joshua...
Beer-e'lim (1 Occurrence)
Beer-e'lim.Beer-elim,Beer-e'lim. Beeri . Multi-Version Concordance
Beer-e'lim (1 Occurrence). Isaiah 15:8 For the...
Beer-la-hai-roi (1 Occurrence)
Beer-la-hai-roi.Beer-la'hai-roi,Beer-la-hai-roi. Beeroth .
Multi-Version ConcordanceBeer-la-hai-roi (1 Occurrence)....
Resources
What is the biblical significance of Beer Lahai Roi? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about drinking alcohol / wine? Is it a sin for a Christian to drink alcohol / wine? | GotQuestions.orgWho were the Philistines? | GotQuestions.orgBeer: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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