Rehoboth
“Wide places; room”
Summary
Rehoboth is the name of a well dug by Isaac and at least two cities in the Old Testament, meaning 'wide places' or 'room.'
☩Isaac's Well
Rehoboth was the third of the wells dug by Isaac in Philistine territory. After the Philistines quarreled over his first two wells, Esek ('contention') and Sitnah ('hatred'), Isaac moved and dug another well over which they did not strive. He named it Rehoboth, saying, 'Now Jehovah hath made room for us, and we shall increase in the land.' The site is probably identified with the ruin Ruhaibeh, about twenty miles southwest of Beersheba, where remains of an ancient city and a well have been found.
☩Cities Named Rehoboth
A city called Rehoboth-ir was one of four cities built by Asshur (or Nimrod in Asshur), along with Nineveh, Calah, and Resen. Its exact location is uncertain but was likely near Nineveh on the Tigris. Another Rehoboth, called 'Rehoboth by the River,' was the city of Saul (or Shaul), one of the early kings of Edom. The phrase 'the River' typically refers to the Euphrates, and this city's appearance in the Edomite king list may indicate an Assyrian connection.
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Rehoboth," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. VIII (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Rehoboth," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. IV (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 3.George Morrish, "Rehoboth," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).
- 4.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Rehoboth," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).