Topical Encyclopedia
Etymology and Meaning:The name "Beeroth" is derived from the Hebrew word "Be'er," meaning "wells." This suggests that the location was known for its wells, which were vital sources of water in the arid regions of ancient Israel.
Biblical References:Beeroth is mentioned several times in the Old Testament, primarily in the context of territorial descriptions and historical narratives. It is one of the cities of the Gibeonites, who famously deceived Joshua and the Israelites into making a peace treaty with them. This account is found in
Joshua 9:17: "So the Israelites set out and went to the cities of Gibeon, Kephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath Jearim."
In the division of the land among the tribes of Israel, Beeroth is listed as part of the territory of the tribe of Benjamin.
Joshua 18:25-28 includes Beeroth in the list of cities belonging to Benjamin: "Gibeon, Ramah, Beeroth, Mizpah, Kephirah, Mozah, Rekem, Irpeel, Taralah, Zelah, Haeleph, the Jebusite city (that is, Jerusalem), Gibeah, and Kiriath—fourteen cities, along with their villages."
Historical Context:Beeroth was one of the four Hivite cities that formed a confederation with Gibeon, Kephirah, and Kiriath Jearim. The Gibeonites, fearing the Israelites after hearing of their victories, resorted to deception to secure a treaty of peace. Despite the deceit, the Israelites honored the treaty due to their oath before God, as recounted in
Joshua 9.
Notable Figures:Beeroth is also mentioned in the context of King David's reign. Two of Saul's captains, Baanah and Rechab, who were sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, are noted for their treacherous act of murdering Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, as recorded in
2 Samuel 4:2-6. This act was intended to curry favor with David, but it was met with condemnation and punishment.
Archaeological and Geographical Considerations:The exact location of ancient Beeroth is not definitively known today, but it is generally associated with the modern village of el-Bireh, located near Ramallah in the West Bank. This identification is based on historical and geographical correlations with biblical descriptions.
Cultural and Theological Significance:Beeroth's inclusion in the narrative of the Gibeonite deception highlights themes of covenant faithfulness and the importance of oaths made before God. The Israelites' adherence to their treaty with the Gibeonites, despite the latter's deceit, underscores the biblical principle of honoring one's word, especially when it involves a vow to the Lord.
The account of Baanah and Rechab serves as a moral lesson on the consequences of treachery and the sanctity of God's anointed leaders. David's response to the murder of Ish-bosheth reflects his respect for God's chosen king and his commitment to justice, even when it might have been politically advantageous to act otherwise.
Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary
Beerothwells; explaining
Smith's Bible Dictionary
Beeroth(wells), one of the four cities of the Hivites who deluded Joshua into a treaty of peace with them. (Joshua 9:17) It is nowel-Bireh , which stands about 10 miles north of Jerusalem.
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Beeroth
Wells, one of the four cities of the Hivites which entered by fraud into a league with Joshua. It belonged to Benjamin (Joshua 18:25). It has by some been identified with el-Bireh on the way to Nablus, 10 miles north of Jerusalem.
Beeroth of the children of Jaakan
(Deuteronomy 10:6). The same as Bene-jaakan (Numbers 33:31).
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
BEEROTHbe-e'-roth, be'-er-oth (be'eroth; Beroth): One of the cities of the Canaanites whose inhabitants succeeded in deceiving Israel, and in making a covenant with them (Joshua 9:3). Apparently they were Hivites (Joshua 9:7). The occasion on which the Beerothites fled to Gittaim where they preserved their communal identity is not indicated. The town was reckoned to Benjamin (2 Samuel 4:2 f). Eusebius, Onomasticon places it under Gibeon, 7 Roman miles from Jerusalem on the way to Nicopolis (Amwas). If we follow the old road by way of Gibeon (el-Jib) and Bethhoron, Beeroth would lie probably to the Northwest of el-Jib. The traditional identification is with el-Bireh, about 8 miles from Jerusalem on the great north road. If the order in which the towns are mentioned (Joshua 9:17;Joshua 18:25) is any guide as to position, el-Bireh is too far to the Northwest. The identification is precarious. To Beeroth belonged the murderers of Ish-bosheth (2 Samuel 4:2), and Naharai, Joab's armor-bearer (2 Samuel 23:371 Chronicles 11:39). It was reoccupied after the Exile (Ezra 2:25Nehemiah 7:29).
W. Ewing
BEEROTH BENE-JAAKAN
ben'-e-ja'-a-kan (be'eroth bene ya`aqan; the Revised Version, margin "the wells of the children of Jaakan"): A desert camp of the Israelites mentioned before Moserah (Deuteronomy 10:6). InNumbers 33:31, 32 the name is given simply "Bene-jaakan," and the situation after Moseroth.
SeeWANDERINGS OF ISRAEL.
Strong's Hebrew
881.Beeroth -- "wells," a place in Palestine...Beeroth. 882 . "wells," a place in Palestine. Transliteration:
Beeroth Phonetic
Spelling: (be-ay-rohth') Short Definition:
Beeroth.
... NASB Word Usage
Beeroth (5)
...885.Beeroth Bene-yaaqan -- "wells of (the) sons of Jaakan," a...
Beeroth Bene-yaaqan. 884, 885.Beeroth Bene-yaaqan. 886 . "wells of
(the) sons of Jaakan," a place in the desert. Transliteration...
886. Beerothi -- inhab. ofBeeroth
... inhab. ofBeeroth. Transliteration: Beerothi Phonetic Spelling: (be-ay-ro-thee')
Short Definition: Beerothite. Word Origin fromBeeroth Definition inhab....
Library
Appendices
... I pray thee, let us go to the city ofBeeroth (cisterns). Thou must hasten to
its ascent, after thou hast passed over its ford in front of it....
The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
...Beeroth, Kirjath-Jearim, Ajalon, Gezer, and the cities of the plain, for the Israelites
could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they had...
Thesaurus
Beeroth (7 Occurrences)...Beeroth. Wells, one of the four cities of the Hivites which entered by fraud
into a league with Joshua.
...Beeroth of the children of Jaakan.
...Beeroth-benejaakan (1 Occurrence)
Beeroth-benejaakan. Be-er'oth,Beeroth-benejaakan.Beeroth-bene-jaakan .
Multi-Version ConcordanceBeeroth-benejaakan (1 Occurrence)....
Beeroth-bene-jaakan (1 Occurrence)
Beeroth-bene-jaakan.Beeroth-benejaakan,Beeroth-bene-jaakan. Beerothite .
Multi-Version ConcordanceBeeroth-bene-jaakan (1 Occurrence)....
Be-er'oth (8 Occurrences)
Be-er'oth.Beeroth, Be-er'oth.Beeroth-benejaakan .... Deuteronomy 10:6 (The
children of Israel traveled fromBeeroth Bene Jaakan to Moserah....
Bene-jaakan (3 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Children of Jaakan (Numbers 33:31, 32), the same as
Beeroth. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.BEEROTH BENE-JAAKAN....
Kephirah (4 Occurrences)
... Joshua 9:17 The children of Israel traveled and came to their cities on the third
day. Now their cities were Gibeon, Chephirah,Beeroth, and Kiriath Jearim....
Beerothite (4 Occurrences)
... be-e'-roth-it, be'-er-oth-it (be'erothi; 2 Samuel 4:5, 9 2 Samuel 23:37; shortened
form, 1 Chronicles 11:39). SeeBEEROTH. Multi-Version Concordance...
Chephirah (4 Occurrences)
... Joshua 9:17 The children of Israel traveled and came to their cities on the third
day. Now their cities were Gibeon, Chephirah,Beeroth, and Kiriath Jearim....
Chephi'rah (4 Occurrences)
... Now their cities were Gibeon, and Chephirah, andBeeroth, and Kiriath-jearim. (See
RSV). Joshua 18:26 and Mizpeh, and Chephirah, and Mozah; (See RSV)....
Jearim (19 Occurrences)
... Joshua 9:17 The children of Israel traveled and came to their cities on the third
day. Now their cities were Gibeon, Chephirah,Beeroth, and Kiriath Jearim....
Resources
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