בְּאֵר

1. a well, often as made by digging (חָפַר) Gen 21:25; Gen 21:30 (E), Gen 26:15; Gen 26:18; Gen 26:19; Gen 26:21; Gen 26:22; Gen 26:32 (all J), also in poetry Num 21:18 (+ כרה) see also vNum 21:16 vNum 21:17 (where the well addressed, in song, עֲלִי בְאֵר); also with כרה in prose Gen 26:25 also with no reference to its origin Gen 16:14 (J; || עַיִן vGen 16:7), Gen 29:2; Exod 2:15 (J) Num 20:17; Num 21:22 (E) 2Sam 17:18; 2Sam 17:21 בְּאֵר (ה)מַיִם Gen 21:19 (E) Gen 24:11 (J; || עַיִן vGen 24:13 vGen 24:16 vGen 24:43 vGen 24:45); (compare also Gen 21:25; Gen 26:18 above & especially vGen 26:19 בְּאֵר מַיִם חַיִּים); water taken from it by drawing (שָׁאַב) Gen 24:11; Gen 24:20 flocks watered from it (הִשְׁקָה מִןֿ) Gen 29:2; Gen 29:3; Gen 29:8; Gen 29:10 (compare especially Exod 2:16 they drew, דלה, and filled the troughs); also מִתּוֺךְ בְּאֵרֶ֑ךָ .... שְׁתֵה מַיִם Prov 5:15 (|| בּוֺר); the opening called פִּי הַבְּאֵר Gen 29:2; Gen 29:3 (twice in verse); Gen 29:8; Gen 29:10 compare ׳פְּנֵי הַבּ 2Sam 17:19 (read probably פּי so ⅏ ᵑ7 ᵑ6 ᵑ9, compare Dr); figurative of fresh delights of woman beloved Song 4:15 מַעְיַן גַּנִּים בְּאֵר מַיִם חַיִּים וְנוֺזְלִים מִןלְֿבָנוֺן.

2. pit (= בּוֺר); pits of bitumen Gen 14:10 (compare above); בְּאֵר שַׁחַת Ps 55:24 pit of (the) grave; compare Ps 69:16 וְאַלתֶּֿאְטַר עָלַי בְּאֵר פִּיהָ and let not (the) pit shut its mouth over me (|| מְצוּלָה); figurative of strange woman בְּאֵר צָרָה a narrow pit, out of which rescue is difficult Prov 23:27 (|| שׁוּחָה עֲמֻקָּה).

3. as proper name, of a location a. with ָ  ה locative בְּאֵ֫רָה a station of Israel in desert Num 21:16, possibly = בְּאֵר אֵילִים Isa 15:8.
  b. same form Judg 9:21, according to Euseb. Lag^{Onom.238, 2nd ed. 250} 8 miles north of Eleutheropolis; compare Rob^{BR i. 452} who compare elBîreh, near Beth-shemesh.

3. a. above