Bible Dictionaries
Holman Bible Dictionary
(bee ee' ruhth) Place name meaning, “wells.” 1. The wells of the sons of Jaakan, where Israel camped in the wilderness (
Numbers 33:31;
Deuteronomy 10:6 ).
2 . A city of the Gibeonites to which Joshua and his army came to defend the Gibeonites after making a covenant with them (
Joshua 9:17 ). The city was allotted the tribe of Benjamin (
Joshua 18:25 ). Ishbosheth's army captains came from Beeroth (
2 Samuel 4:2 ), whose citizens had fled to Gittaim when Israel, possibly under Saul, conquered Beeroth (
2 Samuel 4:3 ). Compare
2 Samuel 21:1-9 for Saul's dealing with the Gibeonites. Joab's armorbearer, one of David's 30 heroes, came from Beeroth (
2 Samuel 23:37 ). Citizens of Beeroth returned with Zerubbabel from Exile in Babylon about 537 B.C. (
Ezra 2:25 ).
The city had to be close to Gibeon, but its exact location is debated. Among suggestions are: el-Bireh, tell en-Nasbeh, Nebi Samwil, Khirbet el-Burj, Biddu, Khirbet Raddana, ras et-Tahune.
Copyright Statement
These dictionary topics are from the Holman Bible Dictionary, published by Broadman & Holman, 1991. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Broadman & Holman.
Bibliography Information
Butler, Trent C. Editor. Entry for 'Beeroth'. Holman Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/hbd/b/beeroth.html. 1991.