BEEROTH (‘wells’). A Gibeonite city, usually coupled in enumeration with Chephirah and Kiriath-jearim ( Joshua 9:17 , Ezra 2:25 , Nehemiah 7:29 ); assigned to the tribe of Benjamin ( Joshua 18:25 , 2 Samuel 4:2 ); the home of Rechab, murderer of Ish-bosheth ( 2 Samuel 4:2 ), and of Naharai, armour-bearer of Joab ( 2 Samuel 23:37 ). Bireh , about 10 miles from Jerusalem on the main road to the north, is the usual identification, and there seems no special reason for objecting thereto. The circumstances and date of the flight of the Beerothites to Gittaim ( 2 Samuel 4:3 ) are not recorded.
R. A. S. Macalister.