Rehoboth (Bible) Explained

Rehoboth (Hebrew: רְחוֹבוֹת|Rəḥōḇōṯ|broad places^[1]) is the name of three biblical places.^[2]

Rehoboth (well)

According to Easton's Bible Dictionary (1893–97), "(a) well in Gerar dug by Isaac (26:22 KJV), supposed to be in Wady er-Ruheibeh, about 32 km (20 miles) south of Beersheba."^[3] Isaac gave it the name Rehoboth, which means "open spaces".^[4] Isaac's servants had dug two wells and the herdsmen of Gerar quarrelled because of these two wells with Isaac's herdsmen. So when they dug the third well and there were no quarrels, Isaac named it Rehoboth, saying, "Now the Lord has given us room, and we will flourish in the land."

Rehoboth by the river

Rehoboth by the river was an ancient city from which came the Edomite king Saul in Genesis 36:37; 1:48 KJV). Since "the River" in the Bible generally is used to mean the Euphrates, scholars have suggested either of two sites near the junction of the Khabur River and the Euphrates. However, this would be a place far outside the Edomite territory. The river mentioned could be a river in Edom such as the Zered (now the Wadi al-Hasa) in Jordan. Rehoboth could be identical with a site southeast of the Dead Sea.

Rehoboth-Ir

See also

• Nimrud#Archaeology
• Rehovot—Modern Israel city close to Tel Aviv, named after Gen. 26:22
• Rehovot-in-the-Negev—Nabatean and Byzantine town in Wadi er-Ruheibeh area (see above for Isaac's well), Negev desert

Notes and References

1. Book: William Coleman Piercy. The Illustrated Bible Dictionary. 1908. Dutton. 741.
2. https://books.google.com/books?id=qRtUqxkB7wkC&pg=PA1116 Eerdman's Bible Dictionary
3. Easton's Bible Dictionary, entry for "Rehoboth".
4. Book: Robert Alter. Genesis: Translation and Commentary. 17 September 1997. W. W. Norton. 978-0-393-07026-2. 135.
5. 10:11–12 KJV