Esek
Where it is
31.39° N, 34.56° E · Located through Gerar
Mentioned most in
About this place
Esek is the name of a well mentioned in Genesis 26:20, which was dug by the servants of Isaac, the son of Abraham. The well was located in the Gerar Valley, where Isaac had settled after the Philistines had stopped up the wells previously dug by his father.
When Isaac's servants dug in the valley and found a well of fresh water, the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with them, claiming the water as their own. As a result, Isaac named the well Esek, which means "contention" or "dispute," reflecting the conflict that had arisen over the water rights.
The incident at Esek demonstrates the ongoing tensions between Isaac and the local inhabitants, as well as the importance of water sources in the semi-arid region. It also highlights Isaac's peaceful nature, as he chose to move on and dig another well rather than engage in further confrontation with the herdsmen of Gerar.
Every mention
Genesis 1 mention
What the dictionary says
Quarrel, a well which Isaac’s herdsmen dug in the valley of Gerar, and so called because the herdsmen of Gerar quarrelled with them for its possession (Gen.…
Sources
- STEPBible TIPNR · Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References · CC BY 4.0 · github.com/STEPBible/STEPBible-Data
- OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding · CC BY 4.0 · www.openbible.info/geo/
- Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary (1869) · Public domain