Beeroth
Beeroth is an ancient city mentioned in the Old Testament, located in the region of Samaria in modern-day Israel. Known today as Khirbet el Burj. It appears across 9 verses in Scripture.
Biblical History
Beeroth, meaning "wells," was one of four Hivite cities that deceived Joshua and the Israelites into making a covenant of peace (Joshua 9:17). When the Israelites discovered the ruse, they honored the sworn agreement but subjected the Gibeonites, including Beeroth's inhabitants, to perpetual service as woodcutters and water carriers for the congregation and altar. The city was subsequently allotted to the tribe of Benjamin (Joshua 18:25). Beeroth figures in a dramatic episode from the reign of King David: two brothers, Baanah and Rechab, sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, assassinated Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, as he rested at midday (2 Samuel 4:2–3). The people of Beeroth had previously fled to Gittaim, a detail suggesting some disruption to the city's population, perhaps connected to Saul's earlier persecution of Gibeonites (2 Samuel 21:1–2). The city's Benjaminite affiliation and its people's role in multiple pivotal narratives make Beeroth a significant, if often overlooked, location in the drama of early Israel.
Archaeological & Historical Notes
Beeroth is most commonly identified with Khirbet el-Burj, located northwest of Jerusalem in the Benjamin highlands, though some scholars propose el-Bireh near Ramallah. Surface surveys at Khirbet el-Burj have identified pottery from the Iron Age, consistent with Benjaminite settlement in the early monarchy period. The site sits along a major north-south ridge road, making it strategically important for travel between the central hill country and Gibeon. No major excavation of Khirbet el-Burj has been completed, limiting definitive conclusions, but the topographical setting and ceramic evidence support its identification as ancient Beeroth.
Verse Appearances (9)
References
- Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
- OpenBible.info (n.d.) Bible Geocoding. Available at: https://www.openbible.info/geo/. [CC BY 4.0]
- Bagnall, R. et al. (eds.) (n.d.) Pleiades: A Gazetteer of Past Places. Available at: https://pleiades.stoa.org. [CC BY 3.0]
- Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]