What was Beerelim?

Beerelim (Hebrew: בְּאֵר אֵילִים, Be’er Elim, meaning “well of the terebinths” or “well of the mighty ones”) was a location mentioned in the book of Isaiah. It appears in Isaiah 15:8 as part of a poetic prophecy concerning the judgment and destruction of Moab, a neighboring nation of Israel often hostile toward God‘s people. The reference to Beerelim is found in a lamentation over Moab’s downfall, marking a geographical point associated with sorrow, flight, and judgment.

Beerelim is also thought to be referenced in Numbers 21:16, where the Israelites stopped at a place called Beer (“well”) during their wilderness wanderings. While the connection is debated, some scholars see Isaiah’s “Beerelim” as an expansion of the earlier “Beer” with “Elim” (mighty ones or trees) added for poetic emphasis. The precise location of Beerelim is unknown today, but it was likely situated in the southern or southeastern region of Moab.

Biblical References:

• Isaiah 15:8 – “Their outcry echoes along the border of Moab; their wailing reaches as far as Eglaim, their lamentation as far as Beer Elim.”

• Numbers 21:16-18 – “From there they continued on to Beer, the well where the Lord said to Moses, ‘Gather the people together and I will give them water.’”

What happened in the Bible?

In Isaiah 15, the prophet delivers a burden (or oracle) against Moab, describing the terror and lamentation that would overtake its cities. This chapter forms part of a longer prophecy (Isaiah 15-16) condemning Moab for its arrogance and idolatry. The outcry reaching Beerelim (v.8) is part of a poetic chain of place names, each highlighting the scale and emotional weight of Moab’s destruction.

Beerelim is used symbolically as one of the furthest reaches of Moab‘s territory to which cries of distress would be heard. This outcry is not only physical but spiritual—a reflection of divine judgment overtaking an idolatrous nation. The mention of Beerelim helps amplify the complete and far-reaching nature of Moab’s fall.

What it means for today’s Christians

Beerelim reminds believers of God’s justice and His sovereignty over all nations, not just Israel. The Moabites were long-time enemies of God’s people and had resisted His purposes, particularly through their idolatry and pride. The wailing reaching Beerelim shows how no part of Moab would escape God‘s righteous judgment.

For Christians today, Beerelim is a sobering reminder of what happens when a nation rejects God. It also points to the hope we have in Christ: while the world groans under sin and judgment, Jesus offers living water (John 4:10-14)—a true and eternal well of life, unlike the dried-up wells of idolatry.

How Beerelim points to Jesus and the Gospel

While Beerelim is associated with the sorrow of Moab, it paradoxically echoes another “well” from Numbers 21, where the Lord miraculously gave water to the Israelites. That event prefigures Christ, who declared Himself to be the source of living water (John 7:37-39). In contrast to the weeping heard at Beerelim, the gospel brings joy, refreshment, and life to those who come to Jesus.

Jesus is the ultimate provision in the desert of judgment. Where Beerelim symbolizes the outcry of a condemned people, the cross of Christ is the place where God bore our condemnation and opened the wellspring of salvation for all who believe.

Broader Biblical Themes

1. God’s Judgment on Nations

The reference to Beerelim is part of a broader prophetic theme: God holds all nations accountable. Moab, though outside the covenant community, is not beyond God’s reach. Judgment is impartial and comprehensive (Isaiah 13-23).

2. The Frailty of Human Power

Beerelim, possibly meaning “well of the mighty ones,” is ironically named in a context where human strength fails. This echoes Scripture’s consistent message: “The Lord foils the plans of the nations” (Psalm 33:10).

3. The Universality of Human Sorrow

The cries reaching Beerelim reflect the sorrow that comes with sin and rebellion. Romans 8:22 says that “the whole creation has been groaning” due to the consequences of sin—a theme Beerelim embodies.

4. God’s Provision in the Wilderness

If Beerelim is connected to Numbers 21‘s “Beer,” then the contrast between God‘s provision and human rebellion becomes striking. Only God can provide true water in the wilderness of life.

Reflection Questions

1. What does the lamentation reaching Beerelim teach us about God’s response to national sin and rebellion?

2. How does Beerelim remind us of the consequences of pride and idolatry?

3. In what ways does the “well” imagery in Scripture point us to Christ and the gospel?

4. How should Christians respond to the reality of God’s judgment on the nations?

5. Are there “dry wells” in your own life where you’ve sought satisfaction apart from God?

6. How can we proclaim the hope of Christ in a world that, like Moab, is often in distress?

7. What does it mean to trust in God as our true source of strength and provision?

8. How does God’s use of geography (like Beerelim) in Scripture teach us about the reach of His Word and judgment?

9. What lessons can we learn from the contrast between the sorrow at Beerelim and the joy of salvation in Christ?

10. Are we listening for the cries of those around us who live apart from the living water of the gospel?

Beerelim, though obscure, stands as a poetic testimony to God‘s justice and a spiritual signpost pointing us away from the judgment of rebellion and toward the living water offered through Jesus Christ.