beersheba

1 definition found

beersheba - Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary :

  Beersheba
  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.