Wells.

From: The New Topical Textbook By: Reuben Archer Torrey

• 1 min. read • grade level: 12

First mention of. Gen. 16:14¹⁴Wherefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered. (Genesis 16:14).

FREQUENTLY MADE

Near encampments. Gen. 21:30³⁰And he said, For these seven ewe lambs shalt thou take of my hand, that they may be a witness unto me, that I have digged this well. (Genesis 21:30). Gen. 26:18¹⁸And Isaac digged again the wells of water, which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father; for the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham: and he called their names after the names by which his father had called them. (Genesis 26:18).

Outside cities. Gen. 24:11¹¹And he made his camels to kneel down without the city by a well of water at the time of the evening, even the time that women go out to draw water. (Genesis 24:11). John 4:6, 8⁶Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour. (John 4:6)
⁸(For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.) (John 4:8).

In the courts of houses. 2 Sam. 17:18¹⁸Nevertheless a lad saw them, and told Absalom: but they went both of them away quickly, and came to a man's house in Bahurim, which had a well in his court; whither they went down. (2 Samuel 17:18).

In the desert. 2 Chr. 26:10¹⁰Also he built towers in the desert, and digged many wells: for he had much cattle, both in the low country, and in the plains: husbandmen also, and vine dressers in the mountains, and in Carmel: for he loved husbandry. (2 Chronicles 26:10).

Supplied by springs. Prov. 16:22²²Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly. (Proverbs 16:22).

Supplied by the rain. Psa. 84:6⁶Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools. (Psalm 84:6).

Surrounded by trees. Gen. 49:22²²Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall: (Genesis 49:22). Ex. 15:27²⁷And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters. (Exodus 15:27).

Names often given to. Gen. 16:14¹⁴Wherefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered. (Genesis 16:14). Gen. 21:31³¹Wherefore he called that place Beer-sheba; because there they sware both of them. (Genesis 21:31).

Canaan abounded with. Deut. 6:11¹¹And houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full; (Deuteronomy 6:11).

Many supplied from Lebanon. SoS. 4:15.

MENTIONED IN SCRIPTURE;

Beer-lahai-roi. Gen. 16:14¹⁴Wherefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered. (Genesis 16:14).

Bethlehem. 2 Sam. 23:15¹⁵And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate! (2 Samuel 23:15). 1 Chron. 11:17, 18¹⁷And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, that is at the gate! ¹⁸And the three brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: but David would not drink of it, but poured it out to the Lord, (1 Chronicles 11:17‑18).

Beer (east of Jordan). Num. 21:16-18¹⁶And from thence they went to Beer: that is the well whereof the Lord spake unto Moses, Gather the people together, and I will give them water. ¹⁷Then Israel sang this song, Spring up, O well; sing ye unto it: ¹⁸The princes digged the well, the nobles of the people digged it, by the direction of the lawgiver, with their staves. And from the wilderness they went to Mattanah: (Numbers 21:16‑18).

Beersheba. Gen. 21:30, 31³⁰And he said, For these seven ewe lambs shalt thou take of my hand, that they may be a witness unto me, that I have digged this well. ³¹Wherefore he called that place Beer-sheba; because there they sware both of them. (Genesis 21:30‑31).

Elim. Ex. 15:27²⁷And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters. (Exodus 15:27).

Esek. Gen. 26:20²⁰And the herdmen of Gerar did strive with Isaac's herdmen, saying, The water is ours: and he called the name of the well Esek; because they strove with him. (Genesis 26:20).

Hagar. Gen. 21:19¹⁹And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink. (Genesis 21:19).

Haran. Gen. 29:3, 4³And thither were all the flocks gathered: and they rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone again upon the well's mouth in his place. ⁴And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence be ye? And they said, Of Haran are we. (Genesis 29:3‑4).

Jacob. John 4:6⁶Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour. (John 4:6).

Rehoboth. Gen. 26:22²²And he removed from thence, and digged another well; and for that they strove not: and he called the name of it Rehoboth; and he said, For now the Lord hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land. (Genesis 26:22).

Sitnah. Gen. 26:21²¹And they digged another well, and strove for that also: and he called the name of it Sitnah. (Genesis 26:21).

Often deep and difficult to draw from. John 4:11¹¹The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water? (John 4:11).

Often covered to prevent their being filled with sand. Gen. 29:2, 3²And he looked, and behold a well in the field, and, lo, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks: and a great stone was upon the well's mouth. ³And thither were all the flocks gathered: and they rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone again upon the well's mouth in his place. (Genesis 29:2‑3).

Had troughs placed near for watering cattle. Gen. 24:19, 20¹⁹And when she had done giving him drink, she said, I will draw water for thy camels also, until they have done drinking. ²⁰And she hasted, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again unto the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels. (Genesis 24:19‑20). Ex. 2:16¹⁶Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters: and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father's flock. (Exodus 2:16).

FREQUENTED BY

Women who came to draw water.

Gen. 24:13, 14¹³Behold, I stand here by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water: ¹⁴And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast showed kindness unto my master. (Genesis 24:13‑14). John 4:7⁷There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink. (John 4:7). Travelers. Gen. 24:11, 13, 42¹¹And he made his camels to kneel down without the city by a well of water at the time of the evening, even the time that women go out to draw water. (Genesis 24:11)
¹³Behold, I stand here by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water: (Genesis 24:13)
⁴²And I came this day unto the well, and said, O Lord God of my master Abraham, if now thou do prosper my way which I go: (Genesis 24:42). John 4:6⁶Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour. (John 4:6).

Strangers not to draw from, without permission. Num. 20:17¹⁷Let us pass, I pray thee, through thy country: we will not pass through the fields, or through the vineyards, neither will we drink of the water of the wells: we will go by the king's high way, we will not turn to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed thy borders. (Numbers 20:17).

Water of, frequently sold. Num. 20:19¹⁹And the children of Israel said unto him, We will go by the high way: and if I and my cattle drink of thy water, then I will pay for it: I will only, without doing any thing else, go through on my feet. (Numbers 20:19).

Were a frequent cause of strife. Gen. 21:25²⁵And Abraham reproved Abimelech because of a well of water, which Abimelech's servants had violently taken away. (Genesis 21:25). Gen. 26:21, 22²¹And they digged another well, and strove for that also: and he called the name of it Sitnah. ²²And he removed from thence, and digged another well; and for that they strove not: and he called the name of it Rehoboth; and he said, For now the Lord hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land. (Genesis 26:21‑22). Ex. 2:16, 17¹⁶Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters: and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father's flock. ¹⁷And the shepherds came and drove them away: but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock. (Exodus 2:16‑17).

Were often stopped up by enemies. Gen. 26:15, 18¹⁵For all the wells which his father's servants had digged in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines had stopped them, and filled them with earth. (Genesis 26:15)
¹⁸And Isaac digged again the wells of water, which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father; for the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham: and he called their names after the names by which his father had called them. (Genesis 26:18). 2 Kin. 3:19, 25.

Often afforded no water. Jer. 14:3³And their nobles have sent their little ones to the waters: they came to the pits, and found no water; they returned with their vessels empty; they were ashamed and confounded, and covered their heads. (Jeremiah 14:3). Zech. 9:11¹¹As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water. (Zechariah 9:11).

ILLUSTRATIVE

Of the ordinances of the Church. Isa. 12:3³Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. (Isaiah 12:3).

Of the Holy Spirit in saints. SoS. 4:15, with John 4:14¹⁴But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. (John 4:14).

Of the mouth of the righteous. Prov. 10:11¹¹The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked. (Proverbs 10:11).

Of wisdom and understanding in man. Prov. 16:22²²Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly. (Proverbs 16:22). Prov. 18:4⁴The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook. (Proverbs 18:4)

(A fruitful bough by,) of Joseph's numerous posterity. Gen. 49:22²²Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall: (Genesis 49:22).

(Drinking from one's own,) of enjoyment of domestic happiness. Prov. 5:15¹⁵Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well. (Proverbs 5:15).

(Without water,) of hypocrites. 2 Peter 2:17¹⁷These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. (2 Peter 2:17).

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