aroer Summary and Overview

ruins. (1.) A town on the north bank of the Arnon (Deut. 4:48; Judg. 11:26; 2 Kings 10:33), the southern boundary of the kingdom of Sihon (Josh. 12:2). It is now called Arair, 13 miles west of the Dead Sea. (2.) One of the towns built by the tribe of Gad (Num. 32:34) "before Rabbah" (Josh. 13:25), the Ammonite capital. It was famous in the history of Jephthah (Judg. 11:33) and of David (2 Sam. 24:5). (Compare Isa. 17:2; 2 Kings 15:29.) (3.) A city in the south of Judah, 12 miles south-east of Beersheba, to which David sent presents after recovering the spoil from the Amalekites at Ziklag (1 Sam. 30:26, 28). It was the native city of two of David's warriors (1 Chr. 11:44). It is now called Ar'arah.

(ruins). 1. A city on the torrent Arnon, the southern point of the territory of Sihon king of the Amorites and afterwards of the tribe of Reuben, #De 2:36; 3:12; 4:48; Jos 12:2; 13:9,16; Jud 11:26; 2Ki 10:33; 1Ch 5:8| but later again in possession of Moab. #Jer 48:19| It is the modern Ara'ir, upon the very edge of the precipitous north bank of the Wady Mojeb. 2. Aroer, "that is 'facing' Rahbah" (Rabbah of Ammon), a town built by and belonging to Gad. #Nu 32:34; Jos 13:25; 2Sa 24:5| This is probably the place mentioned in #Jud 11:33| which was shown in Jerome's time. 3. Aroer, in #Isa 17:2| if a place at all, must be still farther north than either of the two already named. 4. A town in Judah, named only in #1Sa 30:28| perhaps Wady Ar'arah, on the road from Petra to Gaza.

AR'OER (ruins), the name of several places. 1. A city on the north side of the river Arnon, given to Reuben. Josh 13:9, Ex 17:16. It belonged to Sihon of the Amorites, Deut 2:36; Deut 3:12; Deut 4:48; Josh 12:2; Jud 11:26; taken by Syria, 2 Kgs 10:33; possessed by Moab, Jer 48:19. It is identified with ruins on the edge of a steep cliff, 13 miles west of the Dead Sea, and called Ara'ir. 2. A city before Rabbah, built by Gad, Num 32:34; Josh 13:25; it was probably not far west of the modern town of Amman. 3. Aroer, in Isa 17:2, if a proper name, must refer to a region near Damascus. 4. A town in the south of Judah, 1 Sam 30:28 ; now Ar'arah, on the road from Gaza to Petra, and 11 miles south-west of Beer-sheba. Four wells are found there.

("ruins, places with the foundations laid bore".) (See ARNON.) 1. The city taken from Sihon, king of the Amorites, and assigned to Reuben (Deuteronomy 2:36; Joshua 13:9; Joshua 13:16). Afterward in Moab's possession (Jeremiah 48:19), though Aroer may there be regarded as only lying in Moab's way, when fleeing into the desert, and as asking the cause of Moab's flight. With Aroer is associated some "city that is in the midst of the river." Mr. Grove suggests that at the Arnon junction with the Lejum, one hour E. of Arair or Aroer, the hill with ruins on it may be the site of the city in question; no city could have stood in such a position immediately near Aroer. 2. Aroer facing Rabbbah of Ammon: "built," i.e. restored and enlarged, by Gad (Numbers 32:34; Judges 11:33); now perhaps Ayra. Isaiah 17:2 refers to this Aroer with its dependent "cities," then "forsaken" through Tiglath Pileser's having carried away the inhabitants (2 Kings 15:29). 3. A town in Judah (1 Samuel 30:28) to which David sent portions after his victory over the Amalekites at Ziklag. In the wady Ararah, 20 geographical miles S. of Hebron, on the road from Petra to Gaza.