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The Hebrew word most commonly translated “well” is beer ( Genesis 21:30-31; Numbers 21:16-18 ). Beer also occurs in several place names indicating the location of important wells: Beer ( Numbers 21:16 ); Beer-elim (Isaiah 15:8 ); Beeroth (Deuteronomy 10:6 ); Beer-lahai-roi (Genesis 16:14 ); Beer-sheba (Genesis 21:31 ).
The digging of a well could be a time for celebration (Numbers 21:17-18 ), but wells were also fought over as different people tried to control the precious resource (Genesis 21:25-26; Genesis 26:15-22; Exodus 2:16-17 ). Wells were located wherever a water source could be found. This included fields (Genesis 29:2 ), towns (2 Samuel 23:15 ), and the wilderness (Genesis 16:7 ,Genesis 16:7,16:14 ).
“Well” is also used figuratively of a harlot (Proverbs 23:27 NRSV) and of a wicked city ( Jeremiah 6:7 ). Elsewhere it is used as a metaphor for sexual pleasure (Proverbs 5:15; see Song of Song of Solomon 4:15 ).
John C. H. Laughlin
The product of over 6 years of work by hundreds of people, the Holman Bible Dictionary manages to be readable and easy to use, yet take advantage of the finest modern Bible scholarship without heavy technical language. The over 6,600 entries includes extensive cross-referencing of related articles, and quotes from 6 different Bible translations.Wikipedia
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