The term "Dragon Well" appears in the context of the Old Testament, specifically in the book of Nehemiah. It is mentioned in Nehemiah 2:13, where Nehemiah describes his inspection of the walls of Jerusalem. The Berean Standard Bible translates this passage as follows: "So I went out at night through the Valley Gate toward the Dragon Well and the Dung Gate, and I inspected the walls of Jerusalem that had been broken down and the gates that had been destroyed by fire."

Historical and Geographical Context

The Dragon Well, also referred to as the "Fountain of the Dragon" in some translations, is believed to be a specific location near Jerusalem. The exact identification of the Dragon Well is uncertain, but it is generally thought to be a water source or spring located in the vicinity of the city. The mention of the Dragon Well in Nehemiah's account suggests its significance as a landmark during his nocturnal survey of the city's defenses.

The name "Dragon Well" may derive from a Hebrew word that can be translated as "serpent" or "dragon," possibly indicating a serpentine shape of the water source or a local legend associated with it. The well's proximity to the Valley Gate and the Dung Gate places it in the southern part of Jerusalem, an area that was crucial for the city's water supply and sanitation.

Theological Significance

In the biblical narrative, the Dragon Well serves as a geographical marker in Nehemiah's mission to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Nehemiah's inspection of the walls, including his passage by the Dragon Well, underscores his commitment to restoring the city and its defenses after the Babylonian exile. This effort is seen as a fulfillment of God's promise to bring His people back to their land and reestablish Jerusalem as a center of worship and community.

The mention of the Dragon Well, along with other specific locations, highlights the historical and tangible nature of Nehemiah's task. It reflects the biblical theme of restoration and renewal, as God empowers His people to overcome obstacles and rebuild what has been broken. The Dragon Well, therefore, is not just a physical location but also a symbol of the divine assistance and guidance that Nehemiah received in his leadership.

Cultural and Symbolic Interpretations

In the broader biblical context, dragons or serpents often symbolize chaos or opposition to God's order. However, in the case of the Dragon Well, the name does not carry a negative connotation but rather serves as a descriptive term for a landmark. The well's association with water, a vital resource in the arid climate of the region, may also symbolize life and sustenance, further emphasizing the theme of renewal present in Nehemiah's mission.

The Dragon Well, as part of the narrative of Nehemiah, invites readers to reflect on the importance of faith-driven leadership and the role of divine providence in overcoming challenges. It serves as a reminder of the historical reality of the biblical events and the enduring significance of Jerusalem in the spiritual heritage of the Judeo-Christian tradition.Dragon Well

DRAGON WELL

(Nehemiah 2:13 the King James Version). See JACKAL'S WELL.

5886. En Tannim -- "spring of dragons," a place near Jer.
... NASB Word Usage Dragon's Well (1). dragon well. From ayin and the plural of tan;
fountain of jackals; En-Tannim, a pool near Jerusalem -- dragon well. ...
/hebrew/5886.htm - 6k

Integrity and State of the Text.
... It is highly probable that this would apply to the Bel as well as to the Dragon
story, although the corresponding Aramaic of the former is not at present ...
/.../daubney/the three additions to daniel a study/integrity and state of the 3.htm

About the Dragon and the Young Man.
... and his brother: Take workmen, and fill up the place in which the dragon has been ...
Thou hast, then, well come hither, and again thou shalt well go away to him ...
/.../unknown/acts of the holy apostle thomas/about the dragon and the.htm

Nehemiah's Answer to a Call for Help
... I went out by night through the Valley Gate, toward the Dragon's Well and to the
Dung Gate; and I examined carefully the walls of Jerusalem which were broken ...
/.../sherman/the childrens bible/nehemiahs answer to a call.htm

Date and Place of Writing.
... When [Daniel] first began to be translated by the Egyptian Jews into Greek, the
legends of Susanna and Bel and the Dragon, which may very well have had an ...
/.../daubney/the three additions to daniel a study/date and place of writing.htm

Authorship.
... Ant. X.,10, 1; 11, 6 and 7). Sch?�rer in Hauck's Encylop. (I.639), thinks Susanna
and Bel and the Dragon may well originally have had independent existences. ...
/.../daubney/the three additions to daniel a study/authorship.htm

Of the Measure of the Interior Court by the Reed of God, with the ...
... outer and unmeasured one, but ought to be derived from the origin of the repeated
prophecy, as well as the vision of the birth of the child, and of the dragon. ...
/.../mede/a key to the apocalypse/synchronism vi of the measure.htm

Greek and Jew
... scattered like fallen patches of skies the pools of Siloam, Gihon, Shiloh, En-Rogel,
the Great Pool, the Serpent's Pool and the Dragon's Well reflected the ...
/.../miller/the city of delight/chapter viii greek and jew.htm

Theology.
... at iii.12, 14 of that book, may also be compared, [77] as well as I ... Both the statue
and the Dragon are destroyed by ordinary means; and their false position in ...
/.../daubney/the three additions to daniel a study/theology 3.htm

The Life of St. George Martyr
... George slew the dragon and smote off his head, and commanded that he should ... Then
were there well fifteen thousand men baptized, without women and children, and ...
/.../wells/bible stories and religious classics/the life of st george.htm

Of the Thousand Years in which the Dragon or Satan is bound, with ...
... beast was just at hand""Out of the mouth of the dragon and his ... Satan's captivity
and condemnation, after his renewed deliverance, succeeds as well in order ...
/.../mede/a key to the apocalypse/synchronism iv of the thousand.htm

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