Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

AROER

(Heb. ʿărôʿēr)

1. “Aroer on the Arnon,” a town marking the southern border of Sihon of Heshbon’s Amorite kingdom (Deut. 2:36; Josh. 12:2; Judg. 11:26). It was allotted to the Reubenites (Josh. 13:16), although it was the Gadites who rebuilt and occupied it (Num. 32:34). According to the Mesha inscription (l. 26), Mesha of Moab (ca. 830 b.c.e.) later took the city from the Israelites and fortified it. It temporarily fell under the rule of Hazael of Damascus (2 Kgs. 10:33) but was apparently reacquired by Moab shortly thereafter (Jer. 48:19).

Aroer on the Arnon is confidently identified with ʿArâʿir (228097), ca. 5 km. (3 mi.) S of Dibon, E of the old Roman road. Excavations exposed six occupational levels from ca. 2250 b.c.e. to the 3rd century c.e., with an occupational gap during the Middle Bronze Age. A fortress was established on the site during the Late Bronze and Iron Ages.

2. A town in Gilead near the border of Gad and “opposite” or “in front of” Rabbah (probably Rabbath-ammon; Josh. 13:25; Judg. 11:33). Es-Sweiwina, W of Amman, has been suggested as a possible identification.

3. A town in the vicinity of Damascus (Isa. 17:2a). The LXX does not read a place name (cf. NRSV), and no such town near Damascus has been identified.

4. A settlement W of the Jordan (1 Sam. 30:28). The site may be {Arʿarah (148062) in the Negeb, ca. 19 km. (12 mi.) SE of Beer-sheba, although excavations there have revealed no occupation prior to the 7th century b.c.e. A better candidate may be Tell Esdar (1475.0645), 2.5 km. (1.5 mi.) N of {Arʿarah, where some 10th-9th century remains have been found.

Randall W. Younker

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

AROER

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)