Bible Dictionary
Beer
Beer means “well.” It was the place where Israel camped and sang after God provided water, and it was also the town to which Jotham fled from Abimelech.
Definition
Beer means “well.” It names both a station where the Israelites camped during their journey and a town to which Jotham fled from Abimelech.
Biblical Usage
At the wilderness station called Beer, Israel sang around the well that the princes and nobles had dug. The other Beer was the refuge of Jotham after he spoke against Abimelech.
Historical Background
The wilderness location was north of the Arnon but is not identified with certainty. The town to which Jotham fled may be identical with Beeroth.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
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 (Num. 21:16-18) in the wilderness of Moab. (See WELL.) (2.) A town in the tribe of Judah to which Jotham fled for fear of Abimelech (Judg. 9:21). Some have identified this place with Beeroth.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
(a well).
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>be'-er (be'er; phrear; Latin puteus = "well"):</p><p>(1) A station on the march of the Israelites to the North of the Arnon (Nu 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' (Nu 21:16 ff). The place is not identified.</p><p>(2) The town to which Jotham fled from his brother Abimelech after declaring his parable from Mt. Gerizim (Jud 9:21). This may be identical with BEEROTH, which see.</p>