Aroer standard
north of the river, and when last named (Jer 48:19) is again in the hands of Moab. It is one of the cities which Mesha claims to have built, i.e. fortified.
Where is Aroer in the Bible?
Aroer was an ancient city located on the edge of the Arnon Valley, near the border between Israel and Moab in the region of Transjordan. The city appears in several biblical books including Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, and Jeremiah, where it served as an important territorial marker and defensive settlement. Aroer was initially allotted to the tribe of Reuben but was fortified by the tribe of Gad, and it later came under Moabite control, as evidenced by King Mesha's inscription claiming its fortification. The city held strategic military significance, as it marked the extent of the Syrian king Hazael's raid into Israel during the time of King Joash. Scholars have identified Aroer with the archaeological site of Khirbet Ara'ir, located in modern-day Jordan.
In Scripture4 biblical books; 3 with study content
- Deuteronomy
- Joshua
- Judges
- Jeremiah
Aroer
ISBE 1915 (Public Domain)north of the river, and when last named (Jer 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 (Nu 32:34). Thus far came the Syrian, Hazael, in his raid upon Israel (2Ki 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 (Jos 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 1Sa 30:28. Probably however in Jos 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
a-ro'-er-it (ha-`aro`eri): A native of Aroer. The Aroerite was Hotham, father of two of David's heroes (1Ch 11:44).
a'-rom (Arom): The so