Etymology and Meaning:
The name "Aroer" is believed to derive from a Hebrew root meaning "to strip" or "to lay bare," possibly referring to its geographical features or its strategic military significance.

Biblical References:
Aroer is mentioned multiple times in the Old Testament, primarily in the context of territorial boundaries and military conquests. It is associated with several locations, each significant in its own right.

1. Aroer on the Arnon River:
This Aroer is located on the northern bank of the Arnon River, marking the southern boundary of the territory of the Amorites. It was later allotted to the tribe of Reuben. In Deuteronomy 2:36, it is described as a starting point for the conquest of the land: "From Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Valley, and from the city in the valley, even to Gilead, there was not a city that was too high for us. The LORD our God gave us all of them."

2. Aroer in Gilead:
Another Aroer is situated in the region of Gilead, east of the Jordan River. This location is mentioned in Joshua 13:25 as part of the inheritance of the tribe of Gad: "Their territory included Jazer, all the towns of Gilead, and half the land of the Ammonites, as far as Aroer, near Rabbah."

3. Aroer in the Negev:
A third Aroer is found in the Negev, associated with the tribe of Judah. This is mentioned in 1 Samuel 30:28, where David sends spoils to the elders of Judah, including those in Aroer: "and to those in Aroer, Siphmoth, Eshtemoa."

Historical and Archaeological Insights:
Aroer on the Arnon was a significant city during the time of the Israelite conquest and the period of the Judges. It served as a strategic military outpost due to its location on the border of Moab. Archaeological evidence suggests that Aroer was a fortified city, which aligns with its biblical portrayal as a boundary marker and military site.

Theological Significance:
Aroer's mention in the Bible underscores the importance of territorial boundaries in the narrative of Israel's settlement in the Promised Land. It highlights God's faithfulness in delivering the land to the Israelites as promised. The repeated references to Aroer in different contexts also illustrate the complex nature of tribal inheritances and the fulfillment of divine promises.

Prophetic References:
Aroer is also mentioned in prophetic literature, notably in Isaiah 17:2, which speaks of the desolation of cities: "The cities of Aroer are forsaken; they will be for flocks to lie down in, with no one to frighten them." This prophecy reflects the judgment and desolation that would come upon the nations surrounding Israel, serving as a reminder of God's sovereignty over all nations.

Cultural and Religious Context:
In the broader cultural and religious context, Aroer represents the intersection of Israelite and neighboring cultures. Its location on the frontier of Israelite territory made it a point of contact and conflict with surrounding peoples, such as the Moabites and Ammonites. This interaction is evident in the biblical narrative, where Aroer serves as a backdrop for the unfolding account of Israel's relationship with its neighbors.

Aroer, in its various locations, thus serves as a testament to the historical and theological themes of conquest, inheritance, and divine judgment within the biblical narrative.Aroer

heath; tamarisk

Aroer

(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, (2:36; 3:12; 4:48; Joshua 12:2; 13:9,16; Judges 11:26; 2 Kings 10:33; 1 Chronicles 5:8) but later again in possession of Moab. (Jeremiah 48:19) It is the modern Arair , 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. (Numbers 32:34; Joshua 13:25; 2 Samuel 24:5) This is probably the place mentioned in (Judges 11:33) which was shown in Jerome's time.
3. Aroer, in (Isaiah 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 (1 Samuel 30:28) perhaps Wady Ararah , on the road from Petra to Gaza.

Aroer

1. An ancient city on the north side of the Arnon, in the southern border of the tribe of Reuben, De 2:36 4:48 Joshua 13:9. It was in the territory of the Amorites, Joshua 12:2, but seems to have fallen at a later day into the hands of Moab, Jeremiah 48:19. See ARNON.

2. A town in the tribe of God, probably east of Rabbath-Ammon, Joshua 13:25, and perhaps on the Jabbok, 2 Samuel 24:5. It is mentioned in Jud 11:33

3. A town of Judah, to which David sent presents, 1 Samuel 30:28 1 Chronicles 11:44. Robinson found traces of it about sixteen miles south by west from Hebron.

Ruins.

(1.) A town on the north bank of the Arnon (Deuteronomy 4:48; Judges 11:26; 2 Kings 10:33), the southern boundary of the kingdom of Sihon (Joshua 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 (Numbers 32:34) "before Rabbah" (Joshua 13:25), the Ammonite capital. It was famous in the history of Jephthah (Judges 11:33) and of David (2 Samuel 24:5). (Comp. Isaiah 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 Samuel 30:26, 28). It was the native city of two of David's warriors (1 Chronicles 11:44). It is now called Ar'arah.

AROER

a-ro'-er (`aro'er; Aroer):

(1) A city of the Amorites which stood on the northern edge of the Arnon (Deuteronomy 2:36, etc.). Taken by Israel, it shared the vicissitudes of the country north of the river, and when last named (Jeremiah 48:19) is again in the hands of Moab. It is one of the cities which Mesha claims to have built, i.e. fortified. It was within the territory allotted to Reuben, yet its building (fortification) is attributed to Gad (Numbers 32:34). Thus far came the Syrian, Hazael, in his raid upon Israel (2 Kings 10:33). The Roman road across the valley lay about an hour to the West of Khirbet `Ara`ir.

(2) A city in Gilead described as "before Rabbah," on the boundary between Gad and the Ammonites (Joshua 13:25). No name resembling this has yet been recovered in the district indicated.

(3) A city in the territory of Judah named only in 1 Samuel 30:28. Probably however in Joshua 15:22 we should read `ar`arah instead of `adh`adhah, which may be the same city, and may be identical with `Ar`ara, a site with cisterns and some remains of ancient buildings about 14 miles Southeast of Beersheba.

W. Ewing

6177. Aroer -- three cities in Isr.
Aroer or Aroer or Aror. 6176, 6177. Aroer or Aroer or Aror. 6178 . three
cities in Isr. Transliteration: Aroer or Aroer or Aror ...
/hebrew/6177.htm - 6k

6176. aroer -- (probably a tree or bush) perhaps juniper
... aroer. 6177 . (probably a tree or bush) perhaps juniper. Transliteration: aroer
Phonetic Spelling: (ar-o-ayr') Short Definition: bush. ... aroer. 6177 . ...
/hebrew/6176.htm - 6k

6200. Aroeri -- inhab. of Aroer
... Aroeri. 6201 . inhab. of Aroer. Transliteration: Aroeri Phonetic Spelling:
(ar-o-ay-ree') Short Definition: Aroerite. Word Origin from Aroer Definition inhab. ...
/hebrew/6200.htm - 6k

Divine Grace.
... In old times the ancients had their habitations by the rivers; yea, we read
of Aroer, that stood upon the brink of the river Arnon. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bunyan/the riches of bunyan/vi divine grace.htm

Appendices
... And I dug the canals for Korkhah by means of the prisoners. 25. of Israel. I built
Aroer and I made the road in [the province of] the Arnon. [And]. 26. ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/appendices.htm

The Water of Life;
The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3. <. ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the water of life.htm

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 6. <. ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm

Tiglath-Pileser iii. And the Organisation of the Assyrian Empire ...
History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 7. <. ...
/.../chapter iitiglath-pileser iii and the.htm

The Assyrian Revival and the Struggle for Syria
History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 7. <. ...
/.../chapter ithe assyrian revival and.htm

Aroer (17 Occurrences)
...AROER. a-ro'-er (`aro'er; Aroer): (1) A city of the Amorites which stood on the
northern edge of the Arnon (Deuteronomy 2:36, etc.). ...Aroer (17 Occurrences). ...
/a/aroer.htm - 14k

Aro'er (15 Occurrences)
Aro'er. Aroer, Aro'er. Aroerite . ... Aro'er (15 Occurrences). Numbers 32:34 And
the children of Gad built Dibon, and Ataroth, and Aroer; (See RSV). ...
/a/aro'er.htm - 10k

Gorge (19 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 2:36 From Aroer, which is on the edge of the valley of the Arnon, and
from the city that is in the valley, even to Gilead, there was not a city too ...
/g/gorge.htm - 12k

Arnon (23 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 3:12). The city of Aroer stood on the northern edge of the valley
(Deuteronomy 2:36 Judges 12:2, etc.). Arnon was claimed ...
/a/arnon.htm - 17k

Rim (18 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 2:36 From Aroer, which is on the edge of the valley of the Arnon, and
from the city that is in the valley, even to Gilead, there was not a city too ...
/r/rim.htm - 11k

Ravine (26 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 2:36 From Aroer, which is on the bank of the river Arnon, and the city
that is in the ravine even to Gilead, there was not one city too strong for ...
/r/ravine.htm - 14k

Dibon (12 Occurrences)
... the word). It is represented by the modern Dhiban, about 4 miles North
of Aroer (`Ara`ir), on the line of the old Roman road. The ...
/d/dibon.htm - 12k

Bene-ammon (44 Occurrences)
... Joshua 12:2 Sihon, king of the Amorite, who is dwelling in Heshbon, ruling from
Aroer which 'is' on the border of the brook Arnon, and the middle of the brook ...
/b/bene-ammon.htm - 20k

Gadites (32 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 3:12 This land we took in possession at that time: from Aroer, which
is by the valley of the Arnon, and half the hill country of Gilead, and its ...
/g/gadites.htm - 17k

Bank (28 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 2:36 From Aroer, which is on the bank of the river Arnon, and the city
that is in the ravine even to Gilead, there was not one city too strong for ...
/b/bank.htm - 26k

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