Lexical Summary Aroer: Aroer Original Word: עֲרוֹעֵר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Aroer Or 'Aro'er {ar-o-ayr'}; or 'Ar'owr {ar-ore'}; the same as arow'er; nudity of situation; Aroer, the name of three places in or near Palestine -- Aroer. see HEBREW arow'er NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom arar Definition three cities in Isr. NASB Translation Aroer (16). Brown-Driver-Briggs II. עֲרֹעֵר10, עֲרוֺעֵר5, עַרְעֹר1 proper name, of a location Αροηρ, MI26 ערער; — 1 city on north bank of Arnon, southern limit of east Jordan Israel, עֲרֹעֵר Numbers 32:34 (JE), Deuteronomy 2:36; Deuteronomy 3:12; Deuteronomy 4:48; Joshua 12:2 (D) 2 Kings 10:33; 1 Chronicles 5:8; עֲרוֺעֵר Joshua 13:9 (D), Joshua 13:16 (P), 2 Samuel 24:5; Moabitish Jeremiah 48:19 (compare MI26); once עַרְעֹר Judges 11:26; modern `Ar`âir Buhl Geogr. 269, TristrMoab 129 ff. 2 city near Rabbah in Ammon, עֲרֹעֵר Judges 11:33, ׳עֲרוֺ Joshua 13:25 (P), site unknown. 3 city in southern Judah, עֲרֹעֵר 1 Samuel 30:28 (ᵐ5 Αροηρ + Αμμαδει, latter originally according to We, indicating form ערערה; ᵐ5L Παγουηλ); + Joshua 15:22 reading ׳ע (or עַרְעָרָה) for ᵑ0 עַדְעָרָה, ᵐ5B Αρουηλ, We1Samuel 30:28 (compare Dr HPS), Dion the passage Benn Steuern; possibly `Ar`âra approximately 9 miles south of east from Beersheba, but compare BuhlGeogr. 183. — Isaiah 17:2 read עָרֶיהָ עֲדֵי עַד ᵐ5 Lo LagSemitic i. 30 Che BuhlLex and others (for ᵑ0 עָרֵי עֲרֹעֵר). — See also CheEncy. Bib. 317. Topical Lexicon Summary of Occurrences Sixteen Old Testament references present עֲרוֹעֵר (Aroer) as three distinct sites east and south of the Jordan. Ten texts locate it on the northern rim of the Arnon Gorge (present-day Wadi Mujib), four place it farther north-east near the Ammonite border, and two mention a town of the same name in the Negev. Together they trace Israel’s conquest, settlement, judgment, and hope. Aroer on the Arnon Rim Numbers 32:34 first marks Aroer as a rebuilt Gadite stronghold during the Trans-Jordanian settlement. Moses repeatedly cites it as the southern point of Israel’s newly won territory (Deuteronomy 2:36; 3:12; 4:48). Joshua echoes the same boundary formula (Joshua 12:2; 13:9, 16), confirming the historicity of the conquest record. The city overlooked a deep, defensible gorge; its elevated position explains its strategic prominence when David’s census team began numbering east-Jordan tribes (2 Samuel 24:5) and when Hazael of Aram later overran the region (2 Kings 10:33). Aroer on the Ammonite Frontier Joshua 13:25 distinguishes a second Aroer “near Rabbah,” identifying the northern limit of Gad’s inheritance. Judges 11 twice places Jephthah’s campaign against Ammon “from Aroer… to Minnith” (Judges 11:26, 33), demonstrating that Israel firmly controlled this frontier for “three hundred years.” The genealogical note in 1 Chronicles 5:8 speaks of Reubenites dwelling there, underscoring tribal intermingling along the borderlands. Aroer of the Negev The spoils list of David in 1 Samuel 30:28 includes an Aroer among Judah’s southern towns. While smaller and later obscure, its mention alongside Eshtemoa and Hebron shows that the name was not exclusive to Trans-Jordan sites and that David’s generosity reached even fringe settlements. Military and Political Importance Aroer’s various locations controlled major east-west trade arteries and guarded river crossings. Holding them meant command over caravans, grazing rights, and approach routes into Moab and Ammon. Israel’s ability to occupy and fortify these towns fulfilled the territorial promises given in Numbers 21:24–26 and manifested divine faithfulness despite human frailty. Prophetic Oracles Isaiah 17:2 foresees depopulated “cities of Aroer… left for flocks,” a picture of utter desolation amid a larger judgment on Damascus and the northern kingdom. Jeremiah 48:19 similarly exhorts, “Stand by the road and watch, O woman of Aroer!”, warning Moab of incoming devastation. Both prophets use the town’s vulnerable crossroads to dramatize the certainty of divine retribution on covenant breakers and hostile nations alike. Archaeological and Geographical Notes • Arnon Aroer is commonly identified with Khirbet ‘Ara‘ir, where Iron-Age fortifications straddle the canyon rim. Ministry Lessons 1. Boundaries matter: God demarcates territory for His people and expects stewardship (Numbers 34:1-12). The repeated boundary formula with Aroer encourages believers to recognize and guard the spheres of service God assigns them. Thus Aroer—whether perched above the Arnon, guarding the Ammon border, or hidden in the Negev—testifies to God’s sovereignty over geography and history, His sure judgment, and His sustaining grace toward those who trust and obey. Forms and Transliterations בַּעֲרֹעֵ֔ר בַּעֲרֹעֵ֛ר בַעֲרוֹעֵ֗ר בערוער בערער וּבְעַרְע֣וֹר ובערעור מֵֽעֲרֹעֵ֡ר מֵעֲרֹעֵ֞ר מֵעֲרֹעֵר֙ מֵעֲרוֹעֵ֡ר מֵעֲרוֹעֵר֩ מערוער מערער עֲרֹעֵ֑ר עֲרֹעֵֽר׃ עֲרוֹעֵ֑ר עֲרוֹעֵ֕ר ערוער ערער ערער׃ ‘ă·rō·‘êr ‘ă·rō·w·‘êr ‘ărō‘êr ‘ărōw‘êr aroEr ba‘ărō‘êr ḇa‘ărōw‘êr ba·‘ă·rō·‘êr ḇa·‘ă·rō·w·‘êr baaroEr mê‘ărō‘êr mê‘ărōw‘êr mê·‘ă·rō·‘êr mê·‘ă·rō·w·‘êr mearoEr ū·ḇə·‘ar·‘ō·wr ūḇə‘ar‘ōwr uvearor vaaroErLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Numbers 32:34 HEB: עֲטָרֹ֑ת וְאֵ֖ת עֲרֹעֵֽר׃ NAS: Dibon and Ataroth and Aroer, KJV: Dibon, and Ataroth, and Aroer, INT: Dibon and Ataroth and Aroer Deuteronomy 2:36 Deuteronomy 3:12 Deuteronomy 4:48 Joshua 12:2 Joshua 13:9 Joshua 13:16 Joshua 13:25 Judges 11:26 Judges 11:33 1 Samuel 30:28 2 Samuel 24:5 2 Kings 10:33 1 Chronicles 5:8 Isaiah 17:2 Jeremiah 48:19 16 Occurrences |
    |