Bible Encyclopedias
Sirah, Well of

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

sı̄´ra ( הסּרה בּור , bōr haṣirāh , "the pit," "well" or "cistern of Sarah"): The spot from which Abner was enticed back to Hebron to his death ( 2 Samuel 3:26 ). Josephus (Ant. , VII, i, 5) calls it Βη (ρ Ο2 ρπ )σιρά , Bē (r )sirá , implying that it was a "well." It is possible that this spot is now ‛Ain Sārah , a spring which flows into a little tank near the west side of the road about a mile out of ancient Hebron, on the way to Jerusalem. There is, however, a curious cistern with steps known as Ḥamam Sarah ("Sarah's bath") near Ramet el -Khalı̂l , which is also possibly the site (PEF , 314, Sh XXI ).