Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

GERAR

(Heb. gĕrār)

A city on the southern border of Canaan, near Gaza (Gen. 10:19). Here Abraham and Sarah settled as resident aliens (Gen. 20:1-2), and Isaac and Rebekah dwelt at the command of Yahweh (26:2). Both encountered the king Abimelech, and the motif of the wife-sister switch is found in both Genesis texts.

According to LXX 1 Chr. 4:39-41 the “sons of Simeon” went to the gates of Gerar seeking pastureland (MT “Gedor”). King Asa of Judah defeated the massive army of Zerah (an Edomite name) the Cushite, and pursued it to Gerar before taking booty from all the surrounding area (2 Chr. 14:13-14). Hegmonides is called the governor of the area from Ptolemais to Gerar (2 Macc. 13:24).

Whether Gerar refers to the same place in all of these texts is uncertain, as is its exact location. Many scholars associate Gerar with Tel Haror/Tell Abû Hureireh (08795.11257) between Gaza and Beer-sheba on the bank of Naḥal Gerar. Archaeological excavations there show that the site was inhabited from the Chalcolithic period onward, with significant populations in MB II-III, LB II (although smaller than MB), Iron I, and the late Iron through the Persian periods. While the site shows evidence of being an early Philistine settlement (cf. the Genesis texts), it is not listed as part of the five Philistine cities (Josh. 13:3). Other finds at the site include a MB temple complex; grain silos; a refuse pit, which provides evidence for iron technology; public buildings; paved floors; and MB and Iron Age fortifications.

Alice Hunt Hudiburg

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

GERAR

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)