rehoboth Summary and Overview

broad places. (1.) A well in Gerar dug by Isaac (Gen. 26:22), supposed to be in Wady er-Ruheibeh, about 20 miles south of Beersheba. (2.) An ancient city on the Euphrates (Gen. 36:37; 1 Chr. 1:48), "Rehoboth by the river." (3.) Named among the cities of Asshur (Gen. 10:11). Probably, however, the words "rehoboth'ir" are to be translated as in the Vulgate and the margin of A.V., "the streets of the city," or rather "the public square of the city", i.e., of Nineveh.

(wide places, i.e. streets). 1. The third of the series of wells dug by Isaac, #Ge 26:22| in the Philistines' territory, lately identified as er-Ruheibeh, 16 miles south of Beersheba. 2. One of the four cities built by Asshur, or by Nimrod in Asshur, according as this difficult passage is translated. #Ge 10:11| Nothing certain is known of its position. 3. The city of a certain Saul or Shaul, one of the early kings of the Edomites. #Ge 36:37; 1Ch 1:48| The affix "by the river" fixes the situation of Rehoboth as on the Euphrates.

REHO'BOTH (wide places), a name for three places. 1. A well belonging to Isaac, and the third dug by him. Gen 26:22. It has lately been identified, 16 miles south of Beersheba, at the head of the great Wady Refah, and is now known as er-Ruheibeh. Near some stone ruins is an ancient well, the troughs and other masonry which still remain being of immense proportions, and apparently of very great antiquity. One of the troughs is round and the other circular, and cut in solid blocks 6 feet by 5 feet and 5 feet high. Palmer states that the appearance of the masonry, which is more massive and antique than any other in the neighborhood, renders it probable that it is the well which Isaac dug. Though Robinson could not find it, Stewart and Rowlands each found it, as an ancient well and 12 feet in circumference; but it was so built over and filled with rubbish that neither Palmer nor Drake could at first discover it. 1. " Rehoboth by the river," mentioned as the home of Saul or Shaul, an early king of the Edomites. Gen 36:37; 1 Chr 1:48. The "river" is supposed to be the Euphrates. The name is represented by Rahabah, attached to two places on the Euphrates, one 28 miles below the junction of the Khabour and 3 miles from the western bank; the other lower down, on the eastern side. The former is perhaps the true site of ancient Rehoboth. 2. The "city Rehoboth," one of the four founded by Asher or Nimrod. Gen 10:11-12. The text has been variously explained. Some regard it as denoting, not a separate city, but the "streets of the city" - that is, of Nineveh; others prefer to regard it as a distinct city. Rawlinson would identify it with Selemiyah, near Kalah, which has extensive ruins.