Bible Dictionaries
Gerar

Holman Bible Dictionary

(gee' rahr) Place name possibly meaning, “drag away.” City located between Gaza and Beersheba. Abraham and Isaac made treaties with the king of Gerar (Genesis 20:1; Genesis 26:1 ). Gerar was on the border of Canaanite territory (Genesis 10:1;Genesis 10:1;19:1 ). TEV reads Gerar with the earliest Greek translation of 1 Chronicles 4:39-40 . Other translations follow the Hebrew reading Gedor. Gerar was the limit of Asa's pursuit of the defeated Ethiopians (2 Chronicles 14:13-14 ). The site is possibly that of tell Abu Hureirah on the northwest side of Wadi Esh-Sheriah. Numerous potsherds from the Middle Bronze period (1800-1600 B.C.) indicate that the city flourished during the time of the patriarchs.