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H881 · Hebrew · Old Testament
בְּאֵרוֹת
Be'erot
Proper noun
Wells (place name)

Definition

The Hebrew place name Be'erot means 'wells' (plural of be'er) and designates a Hivite city in Canaan that made a deceptive treaty with Israel (Joshua 9), later counted among the Benjaminite towns (Joshua 18:25; Ezra 2:25).

Usage & Theological Significance

The Gibeonite deception at Be'erot (Joshua 9) teaches that even well-intentioned leaders can be deceived when they 'did not ask counsel from the LORD' (Joshua 9:14). The oath made to the Gibeonites — even under false pretenses — was considered binding before God, and violating it later brought judgment under Saul (2 Samuel 21). The lesson is the necessity of seeking God's wisdom before making covenantal commitments, and the seriousness with which God regards sworn oaths.

Key Bible Verses

Joshua 9:17 And the people of Israel set out and reached their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim.
Joshua 18:25 Gibeon, Ramah, Beeroth...
Ezra 2:25 The sons of Kiriath-arim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred and forty-three.
Joshua 9:14 So the men took some of their provisions, but did not ask counsel from the LORD.
2 Samuel 21:2 The Gibeonites were not of the people of Israel but of the remnant of the Amorites. Although the people of Israel had sworn to spare them, Saul had sought to strike them down.

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