Bible Dictionaries
Beeroth

Holman Bible Dictionary

(bee ee' ruhth) Place name meaning, “wells.” 1. The wells of the sons of Jaakan, where Israel camped in the wilderness (Numbers 33:31; Deuteronomy 10:6 ). 2 . A city of the Gibeonites to which Joshua and his army came to defend the Gibeonites after making a covenant with them (Joshua 9:17 ). The city was allotted the tribe of Benjamin (Joshua 18:25 ). Ishbosheth's army captains came from Beeroth (2 Samuel 4:2 ), whose citizens had fled to Gittaim when Israel, possibly under Saul, conquered Beeroth (2 Samuel 4:3 ). Compare 2 Samuel 21:1-9 for Saul's dealing with the Gibeonites. Joab's armorbearer, one of David's 30 heroes, came from Beeroth ( 2 Samuel 23:37 ). Citizens of Beeroth returned with Zerubbabel from Exile in Babylon about 537 B.C. (Ezra 2:25 ).

The city had to be close to Gibeon, but its exact location is debated. Among suggestions are: el-Bireh, tell en-Nasbeh, Nebi Samwil, Khirbet el-Burj, Biddu, Khirbet Raddana, ras et-Tahune.