Beer, a well; a local proper name, denoting, whether by itself or in composition, the presence of a well of water. There were two places so called— 1. A place in the land of Moab, which was one of the encampments of the Israelites (Numbers 21:16).— 2. A town in the tribe of Judah. It is mentioned only once in Scripture (Judges 9:21), as the place to which Jotham fled. It is supposed to be the same with the modern Bireh, a large village situated on the ridge, running from east to west, which bounds the northern prospect, as beheld from Jerusalem and its vicinity, and may be seen from a great distance north and south. It contains a population of 700 Muslims. The houses are low, and many of them half underground. Many large stones and various substructions evince the antiquity of the site; and there are remains of a fine old church of the time of the Crusades.