Beersheba

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Beersheba

Meaning "the well of seven" or "well of the oath".

Beersheba is an ancient city located to the west of the Dead Sea in Negev. It has been an important oasis for caravans since ancient times. There are actually two sites, the modern city of Beersheba and the ancient site known as Tel Beersheba (actually Tel Sheva, the mound of biblical Beersheba) located about 3 miles east of the present-day city of Beersheba.

Beersheba is known for its wells or water supply system. When Hagar and Ishmael were sent out into the desert and ran out of water, it was at Beersheba where she found a well of water (Gen 21:19). Also, Abraham dug a well at Beersheba and made a covenant with Abimelech over the well when a dispute erupted. (Gen 21:22-32). Abraham also planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba and called on the name of the Lord, the Everlasting God (Gen 21:33).
Later Isaac, made another pact with Abimelech (this is probably his descendent). In a similar situation like his father, Isaac was involved with a dispute that arose with Abimelech about water rights. Isaac established a covenant with Abimelech over water rights (Gen 26:23-33).

During the conquest of Canaan under Joshua, the tribe of Simeon was given Beersheba (Josh 19:2; 1 Chr 4:28). Beersheba also appears in the list of cities allotted to the tribe of Judah (Josh 15:28). Beersheba symbolized the southern boundary of the Land of Israel, as in the phrase from Dan to Beersheba. (Judges 20:1; 1 Samuel 3:20; and 1 Kings 5:5)

The city is located in a basin where two wadis convergence. Beersheba has a natural underground water supply. This is due to a clay formation about twenty feet below the surface that forms a water table.

A large area of the site was excavated between 1969 and 1976, producing several layers of the remains of settlement, including fortified towns of the early Israelite period and the monarchic period of Judah, covered by remnants of small fortresses dated from the Persian to the Roman periods. Archaeology has established that a fortified settlement was established by the end of the 11th century BC. Around the mid-10th century BC, the first large fortified city was established at Beersheba. Its area extended over 2.8 acres. The city gate, had a four-chambered gatehouse.

Around the 9th century BC, a new city wall was erected on the remains of the previous one.

A drainage system was constructed beneath the streets of Beersheba to collect rainwater into a central channel, which carried it under the city gate and outside into the well. An impressive water system was also constructed in the northeast of the city, within the wall, with a stone staircase leading down to a water chamber cut deep into the rock.

The population of Beersheba in the 8th century BC is estimated at 400-500, including officials and soldiers of the army of Judah stationed in Beersheba.

Also, a large horned altar has been discovered at the site. It was reconstructed with several well-dressed stones found in secondary use in the walls of a later building. This altar attests to the existence of a temple or cult center in the city which was probably dismantled during the reforms of King Hezekiah.

The city of Beersheba (Tel Beersheba) was destroyed by King Sennacherib of Assyria, during his campaign against Judah in 701 BC.

Bible References

Gen_21:14

Gen_21:31

Gen_21:32

Gen_21:33

Gen_22:19

Gen_26:23

Gen_26:33

Gen_28:10

Gen_46:1

Gen_46:5

Jos_15:28

Jos_19:2

Jdg_20:1

1Sa_3:20

1Sa_8:2

2Sa_3:10

2Sa_17:11

2Sa_24:2

2Sa_24:7

2Sa_24:15

1Ki_4:25

1Ki_19:3

2Ki_12:1

2Ki_23:8

1Ch_4:28

1Ch_21:2

2Ch_19:4

2Ch_24:1

2Ch_30:5

Neh_11:27

Neh_11:30

Amo_5:5

Amo_8:14

 

References