Lexical Summary Beer Elim: Well of Elim Original Word: בְּאֵר אֵלִים Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Beer-elim From 'er and the plural of 'el; well of heroes; Beer-Elim, a place in the Desert -- Beer-elim. see HEBREW 'er see HEBREW 'el NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom beer and el Definition "well of heroes," a city of Moab NASB Translation Beer-elim (1). Topical Lexicon Geographical Context Beer Elim appears in Isaiah 15:8 within an oracle against Moab. The place name, formed with the word for “well,” suggests a water source situated between Eglaim and the Brook of the Willows (Isaiah 15:8–9). Ancient traditions place it in the eastern Jordan rift, likely on the northern edge of Moabite territory near the Arnon River. Its mention during a crisis implies it was one of the final refuges along the southern approach to Edom before the land descends toward the Gulf of Aqaba. Biblical Setting The prophetic burden in Isaiah 15–16 portrays swift devastation sweeping through every important city of Moab. Isaiah 15:8 reads, “For the cry has gone around the border of Moab, its wailing reaches Eglaim, its wailing reaches Beer Elim.” The imagery of wailing progressing to Beer Elim marks the climactic spread of anguish from the heartland of Moab to its extremities. By including Beer Elim, the Spirit-led prophet shows that no enclave, however remote, escapes divine judgment when covenant-breaking nations oppose the purposes of the LORD (compare Numbers 25:1; Jeremiah 48:42). Historical Significance 1. Border Marker: The parallelism with Eglaim suggests Beer Elim delineated a boundary—likely the southeastern limit of the settled plateau. Its mention verifies that Moab’s controlling influence once extended to multiple wells on the desert fringe, illuminating Iron Age water management and caravan routes. Theological and Ministry Implications • Universal Scope of Divine Justice: Beer Elim’s isolation underscores that God’s judgments are comprehensive (Psalm 139:7–12); distance offers no sanctuary from moral accountability. Lessons for Contemporary Believers 1. Remoteness does not negate accountability; holiness must be pursued in private as well as public life. Related Bible Passages Isaiah 15:8–9; Numbers 21:13–15; Jeremiah 48:34; Psalm 107:33–38; John 4:13–14 Forms and Transliterations אֵילִ֖ים אילים ’ê·lîm ’êlîm eiLimLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Isaiah 15:8 HEB: יִלְלָתָ֔הּ וּבְאֵ֥ר אֵילִ֖ים יִלְלָתָֽהּ׃ NAS: and its wailing even to Beer-elim. KJV: and the howling thereof unto Beerelim. INT: Eglaim wail to Beer-elim wail |
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