Abraham's Well

The Abraham's Well is a tourists' site on the banks of the Beersheba stream, close to the Old City of Beersheba. The site presents the story of Abraham Avinu, the spiritual father of Jews, Moslims and Christians (three Abrahamic religions). Actually, Beersheba got its name from this very place: "be'er" meaning "a well" and "sheba" meaning an "oath".

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For people who live in a desert, a well is a symbol that represents a meeting place, hospitality, brotherhood and friendship.

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In the 19th century, archaeologists Edward Robinson and Henry Tristram found that the well was more than a thousand years old and existed at the beginning of the Crusader period. There was an inscription in Arabic that dated back to 1112. In 1948, with the conquest of Beersheba as part of Operation Yoav, Abraham's well was turned into an archeological public area. Shortly after the signing of the peace treaty between Israel and Egypt, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat visited the place where the first peace treaty in history was made (between Abraham and Elimelech, King of Gerar).

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In October 2013, a Visitors Center was opened at the site. Here you can learn the story of Abraham Avinu. The Bible comes alive with the help of advanced technology which makes the visitors part of the historic events. It also has a tour with an interesting 3D video and quotes from the Bible with explanation. To add to the unique experience, the designers used the colors of the desert and the color of the historic period (bronze-copper).

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It is interesting to note that the Patriarch Abraham settled in Beersheba in 1948 according to the Jewish calendar. The State of Israel was established in 1948 (according to the Christian calendar).

 

Location: Old City, Beersheba

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Opening hours: Sunday through Thursday, 08:30-17:00 (first tour at 09:00, last tour at 16:00); Fridays, 09:00-13:00 (last tour at 12:00). The Abraham's Well International Visitor Center is closed on Saturdays and Jewish Holidays.