A place where the Israelites stopped during their wilderness journey (<bibleref ref="Num.21.16">Num.21.16</bibleref>), possibly the same as Beer Elim (<bibleref ref="Isa.15.8">Isa.15.8</bibleref>).A place to which Jotham fled from his brother Abimelech (<bibleref ref="Judg.9.21">Judg.9.21</bibleref>). The site is unknown.

<hr/>
<strong>BEER</strong> <strong>be’ ər</strong> (<span class="hebrew">בְּאֵ֗ר</span>; LXX <span class="greek">Φρέαρ</span>; and <span class="greek">βαιήρ</span>; <em>well, cistern</em>, usually manmade). 1. A stopping place for the wandering Israelites prob. N of the River Arnon in Moab (<bibleref ref="Num.21.16">Num 21:16</bibleref>). Yahweh provided water there for the people and they brought forth a jubilant song. It was situated in a desert area seemingly not too far from Mattanah. The Beer-elim of <bibleref ref="Isa.15.8">Isaiah 15:8</bibleref> may be the same place. The site has not been identified.<br /><br />

2. The place to which Jotham fled after declaring the parable in which he denounced his brother Abimelech’s violent seizure of power (<bibleref ref="Judg.9.21">Judg 9:21</bibleref>). Probably close to Mt. Gerizim. The site has not been identified.

<h2>International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915)</h2>

(be’er; phrear; Latin puteus = "well"):<br /><br />

(1) A station on the march of the Israelites to the North of the Arnon (<bibleref ref="Num.21.16">Nu 21:16</bibleref>). Here it was that they sang round the well this song: `Spring up O well; greet it with song, Well, that the princes have dug, The nobles of the people have bored, With the scepter--with their staves’ (<bibleref ref="Num.21.16-Num.21.35">Nu 21:16 ff</bibleref>). The place is not identified.

(2) The town to which Jotham fled from his brother Abimelech after declaring his parable from Mt. Gerizim (<bibleref ref="Judg.9.21">Jud 9:21</bibleref>). This may be identical with <em>BEEROTH</em>, which see.<br /><br />