the Third Week of Advent
Click here to join the effort!
Bible Dictionaries
Well
Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament
or WELL (πηγή, φρέαρ, John 4:6; John 4:11).—The one well mentioned in the Gospels is that of Jacob, near ancient Shechem, under the northern cliffs of Gerizim. There is no reasonable doubt that this is the well pointed out to this day as Bîr Ya’kûb in the eastern opening of the pass of Nâblus. Samaritan, Jewish, Christian, and Moslem traditions support this identification with absolute unanimity. See Jacob’s Well.
There is a law of the well in the East, which, although unwritten, ‘receives well-nigh universal homage. Drawing water from the cisterns or wells that abound in Palestine occupies much of the women’s time. The stones round the mouth of many a well are scored deeply by friction of the ropes to which the bucket or leather daluw is attached. Few experiences are more trying than to pass one of these ‘wells’ in the heat, seeing the water in the cool depths but having ‘nothing to draw with.’ The appeal of the thirsty to one drawing, ‘Give me to drink,’ is never refused. While surprised that a Jew, even when urged by thirst, should thus accost a Samaritan, the woman did not deny the Saviour’s request. Even a Metâwileh, one of the most fanatical of all Oriental sects, will give water to the thirsty, if appealed to, although to avoid the possibility of pollution he must destroy the vessel from which the infidel has drunk.
W. Ewing.
These files are public domain.
Text Courtesy of BibleSupport.com. Used by Permission.
Hastings, James. Entry for 'Well'. Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/hdn/w/well.html. 1906-1918.
