Lexical Summary
Beeroth Bene-yaaqan: Beeroth Bene-jaakan
Original Word: בְּאֵרֹת בְּנֵי־יַעֲקַן
Part of Speech: Proper Name Location
Transliteration: Beroth Bney-Ya`aqan
Pronunciation: beh-ay-ROHT beh-nay yah-ah-KAHN
Phonetic Spelling: (be-ay-roth' be-nay' yah-a-can')
KJV: Beeroth of the children of Jaakan
NASB: Beeroth Bene-jaakan
Word Origin: [from the feminine plural of H875 (בְּאֵר - well), and the plural contraction of H1121 (בֵּן - sons), and H3292 (יַעֲקָן - Jaakan)]
1. wells of (the) sons of Jaakan
2. Beeroth-Bene-Jaakan, a place in the Desert
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Beeroth of the children of Jaakan
From the feminine plural of 'er, and the plural contraction of ben, and Ya'aqan; wells of (the) sons of Jaakan; Beeroth-Bene-Jaakan, a place in the Desert -- Beeroth of the children of Jaakan.
see HEBREW 'er
see HEBREW ben
see HEBREW Ya'aqan
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
beer,
ben and
YaaqanDefinition"wells of (the) sons of Jaakan," a place in the desert
NASB TranslationBeeroth Bene-jaakan (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
Deuteronomy 10:6 (compare
Numbers 33:31,32, where ), a station of Israel in desert, probably in country of Horites, compare Di.
Topical Lexicon
Name and Meaning Beeroth Bene-Jaakan is commonly rendered “Wells of the sons of Jaakan,” an expression that immediately highlights two key themes: water in the wilderness and a link with an ancestral family known through genealogies among the Horites (compare 1 Chronicles 1:42). Both motifs—life-sustaining provision and remembered lineage—surface again in its single explicit mention in Deuteronomy.
Biblical References
• Deuteronomy 10:6: “The Israelites traveled from Beeroth Bene-Jaakan to Moserah. Aaron died there and was buried, and Eleazar his son succeeded him as priest.”
• Compare the related station names in Numbers 33:31-32, where the route is recorded as “Bene Jaakan” (without the word “wells”), demonstrating complementary perspectives rather than contradiction between Moses’ two records.
Geographical Setting
Most scholars locate Beeroth Bene-Jaakan in the central Arabah, south of modern-day Edom and to the northwest of the traditional Mount Hor. Its partnership with sites such as Moserah and Hor Haggidgad situates it along the eastern flank of the Wilderness of Zin. The vicinity originally lay within Horite territory, explaining why the locale bears the family name “Jaakan.”
Historical Context in the Wilderness Itinerary
After the events at Mount Sinai, Israel’s movement pauses at places that often carry theological weight. Beeroth Bene-Jaakan follows the episode of the second giving of the tablets (Deuteronomy 10:1-5) and immediately precedes the notice of Aaron’s death. By recalling the “wells” here, Moses underscores God’s tangible provision of water even as He calls the nation to wholehearted obedience (Deuteronomy 10:12-13).
Connection to the Aaronic Priesthood Transition
The mention of Beeroth Bene-Jaakan sets the stage for a solemn leadership change: “Aaron died there… and Eleazar his son succeeded him as priest” (Deuteronomy 10:6). The juxtaposition of water and priesthood invites reflection on the continual cleansing and mediation necessary for Israel’s walk with God. As the covenant people move forward, the Lord supplies both physical water and priestly intercession.
Typological and Theological Insights
1. Providence in the desert: The wells illustrate Yahweh’s ongoing mercy despite Israel’s repeated unbelief.
2. Succession without interruption: The handing of priestly authority from Aaron to Eleazar during travel testifies to the durability of God’s ordained ministry.
3. Remembrance and identity: The preservation of a Horite toponym within Israel’s itinerary reinforces Scripture’s trustworthiness in historical detail and God’s sovereign orchestration of peoples and places.
Archaeological and Historical Considerations
While no definitive excavation has uncovered the wells themselves, Iron Age sites along the Arabah with ancient water installations lend plausibility to the biblical record. Moreover, similar doublets of place-names in Egyptian and Akkadian travel lists affirm that oasis references were common waypoints in Bronze-Age itineraries.
Lessons for Ministry Today
• Dependence: Like Israel, congregations must recognize the Lord as the unfailing source who opens “wells” in dry seasons.
• Faithful transition: Leadership changes, when handled within God’s order, can strengthen rather than destabilize the community.
• Historical confidence: The accuracy of seemingly minor geographical notes bolsters confidence in the larger redemption narrative of Scripture.
In the single yet purposeful mention of Beeroth Bene-Jaakan, the Spirit weaves together provision, priesthood, and pilgrimage, inviting every generation to trust the God who guides and sustains His people from one stage of their journey to the next.
Forms and Transliterations
יַעֲקָ֖ן יעקן ya‘ăqān ya·‘ă·qān yaaKan
Links
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Interlinear Hebrew •
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