Beersheba

Lore & Background

Beersheba first appears in the account of Hagar, who wandered in its wilderness after Abraham sent her away with bread and water (Genesis 21:14). The place received its name when Abraham and Abimelech made a covenant there, swearing an oath (Genesis 21:31-32). Abraham then planted a grove and called on the name of the LORD, the everlasting God (Genesis 21:33). After the binding of Isaac, Abraham returned to and dwelt at Beersheba (Genesis 22:19). Isaac later went up to Beersheba (Genesis 26:23) and named the city Shebah, confirming its name (Genesis 26:33). Jacob departed from Beersheba on his journey to Haran (Genesis 28:10), and years later, as Israel, he came to Beersheba to offer sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac before continuing to Egypt (Genesis 46:1, 46:5).

Reader's Guide

The passages portray Beersheba as a place of significant patriarchal activity: it is where Abraham made a covenant, planted a grove, and called on God (Genesis 21:31-33); where Abraham dwelt after a major test (Genesis 22:19); where Isaac confirmed the city's name (Genesis 26:33); and where Jacob both began his journey to Haran and later stopped to worship before leaving Canaan (Genesis 28:10; 46:1). In the later historical books, Beersheba becomes a geographic marker for the southern limit of Israel, paired with Dan in the north to express the full extent of the land (Judges 20:1; 1 Samuel 3:20; 2 Samuel 3:10; 2 Samuel 17:11; 2 Samuel 24:2). It is also listed among the cities allotted to the tribes of Judah and Simeon (Joshua 15:28; 19:2), and was the location where Samuel's sons served as judges (1 Samuel 8:2). The passages do not describe any major events at Beersheba after the patriarchal period beyond its use as a boundary reference.

Did You Know?

• Beersheba is first mentioned as the wilderness where Hagar wandered after being sent away by Abraham (Genesis 21:14).
• The name Beersheba is explained as deriving from the oath sworn by Abraham and Abimelech (Genesis 21:31).
• Isaac also named the city Shebah, confirming the name Beersheba (Genesis 26:33).
• The phrase 'from Dan even to Beersheba' appears five times in the passages to denote the whole land of Israel (Judges 20:1; 1 Samuel 3:20; 2 Samuel 3:10; 2 Samuel 17:11; 2 Samuel 24:2).