Beersheba

BEERSHEBA (Βηρσαβεί), The Well of the Oath;s o named from an incident in the life of Abraham (Gen. 21.25, &c.), and afterwards the site of a city, situated in that part of Judah, which was assigned to the tribe of Simeon. (Josh. 15.28, 19.2.) It is proverbial as the southernmost extremity of the Land of Israel, and was in the time of Eusebius a very extensive village twenty miles south of Hebron. It was then occupied by a Roman garrison. Its name is still preserved, and the site is marked by two fine ancient wells, and extensive ruins. (Reland, s. v.; Robinson, Bib. Res. vol. ii. pp. 301--303.) It is 12 hours, or more than 30 Roman miles, S.W. by W. of Hebron.