Places in the Bible · Settlement

Beersheba

Beersheba is a settlement mentioned in 23 verses. Its most likely location is Tel Beer Sheva. The name means “the well of an oath; the seventh well.”

Where is Beersheba?

Approx. 31.2447, 34.8408 · OpenStreetMap · Google Maps

Possible modern locations

IdentificationTypeConfidence
Tel Beer ShevasettlementHigh
Bir es SebasettlementLow

Beersheba in the Bible dictionary

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.

Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897), public domain. Full dictionary entry →

Verses that mention Beersheba

  • Joshua 15:28

    And Hazar–shual, and Beer–sheba, and Bizjothjah,

  • Joshua 19:2

    And they had in their inheritance Beer–sheba, Sheba, and Moladah,

  • Judges 20:1

    Then all the children of Israel went out, and the congregation was gathered together as one man, from Dan even to Beer–sheba, with the land of Gilead, unto the Lord in Mizpeh.

  • 1 Samuel 3:20

    And all Israel from Dan even to Beer–sheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the Lord.

  • 1 Samuel 8:2

    Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges in Beer–sheba.

  • 2 Samuel 3:10

    To translate the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beer–sheba.

  • 2 Samuel 17:11

    Therefore I counsel that all Israel be generally gathered unto thee, from Dan even to Beer–sheba, as the sand that is by the sea for multitude; and that thou go to battle in thine own person.

  • 2 Samuel 24:2

    For the king said to Joab the captain of the host, which was with him, Go now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beer–sheba, and number ye the people, that I may know the number of the people.

  • 2 Samuel 24:7

    And came to the strong hold of Tyre, and to all the cities of the Hivites, and of the Canaanites: and they went out to the south of Judah, even to Beer–sheba.

  • 2 Samuel 24:15

    So the Lord sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning even to the time appointed: and there died of the people from Dan even to Beer–sheba seventy thousand men.

All 23 references