בְּאֵרֹת בְּנֵי־יַעֲקַן
Beeroth-Bene-Jaakan, a place in the Desert
Definition
Beeroth-Bene-Jaakan is a place name meaning 'wells of the sons of Jaakan.' It was a desert encampment or location where the Israelites stopped during their wilderness wanderings after the Exodus from Egypt. The name is recorded in Deuteronomy 10:6 as one of the stations on the journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. It is associated with the broader narrative of Israel's 40-year period of testing and divine provision in the wilderness.
Biblical Usage
This proper noun appears only once in the Old Testament, in Deuteronomy 10:6. It is used in a historical summary of Israel's itinerary, specifically in the context of recounting the death and burial of Aaron at Moserah and the subsequent journey to Gudgodah and Jotbathah. The usage is purely geographical, serving as a landmark in the wilderness tradition.
Etymology
The name is a compound Hebrew phrase. It derives from: 1) 'Beeroth' (בְּאֵרֹת), the feminine plural of 'be'er' (H875), meaning 'well' or 'pit.' 2) 'Bene' (בְּנֵי), a plural construct form of 'ben' (H1121), meaning 'sons of' or 'children of.' 3) 'Jaakan' (יַעֲקַן), a proper name (H3292) meaning 'he will twist' or possibly derived from a root meaning 'to be cunning.' The full construction literally means 'wells of the sons of Jaakan,' indicating a site owned or frequented by the clan of Jaakan.
Semantic Range
While the name itself is a geographical marker, its inclusion in Deuteronomy 10:6 connects it to the theological theme of God's guidance and provision during Israel's wilderness journey. It serves as a tangible reminder of a specific point along the path where God led His people, reinforcing the narrative of divine faithfulness and the consequences of Israel's disobedience that led to the prolonged wandering. Understanding the name ('wells of the sons of Jaakan') highlights the practical reality of God supplying water—a critical need—in the desert.
In the ancient Near Eastern context, wells were vital sources of life in arid regions and were often named after the clans or individuals who discovered, owned, or maintained them. The name 'Beeroth-Bene-Jaakan' follows this pattern, identifying the location with a specific tribal group (the Bene-Jaakan). This suggests it was a known watering stop for nomadic tribes, which the Israelites would have utilized on their journey. The 'sons of Jaakan' are also mentioned in genealogical lists (1 Chronicles 1:42), linking them to the Horite peoples of the region.
Beer (H875) — The singular form for 'well' or 'pit,' from which Beeroth is derived. | Moserah (H4149) — Another wilderness station mentioned in the same verse (Deuteronomy 10:6), associated with Aaron's death. | Jotbathah (H3193) — The next encampment listed after Beeroth-Bene-Jaakan in the itinerary (Deuteronomy 10:7).
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
Full methodology & sources →