Location
Overview
Gerar was a town in the south country, in the territory of the Philistines under King Abimelech. Both Abraham and Isaac lived there as sojourners, and both stories run remarkably parallel.
Abraham and Abimelech
Abraham journeyed to Gerar and, fearing for his life, called Sarah his sister; Abimelech took her but was warned by God in a dream and restored her unharmed, rebuking Abraham (Genesis 20).
Isaac's blessing and wells
Later, during a famine, the LORD told Isaac not to go down to Egypt but to dwell in Gerar, renewing the covenant to him there. Isaac sowed and reaped a hundredfold and "waxed great" (Genesis 26:1–14).
Strife over water
The Philistines envied Isaac and stopped his wells; he moved from place to place, digging again the wells of Abraham, until at last there was room and peace, and he made a covenant with Abimelech (Genesis 26:15–31).
Events Here
Abraham sojourns in Gerar; Abimelech restores Sarah
Isaac dwells in Gerar and is blessed a hundredfold
Scripture References
10 versesGenesis8 verses
Genesis 10:19
And the border of the Canaanites was from Sidon, as thou comest to Gerar, unto Gaza; as thou goest, unto Sodom, and Gomorrah, and Admah, and Zeboim, even unto Lasha. Gaza: Heb. Azzah
Genesis 20:1
And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the south country, and dwelled between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned in Gerar.
Genesis 20:2
And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah.
Genesis 26:1
And there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines unto Gerar.
Genesis 26:6
And Isaac dwelt in Gerar:
Genesis 26:17
And Isaac departed thence, and pitched his tent in the valley of Gerar, and dwelt there.
Genesis 26:20
And the herdmen of Gerar did strive with Isaac's herdmen, saying, The water is ours: and he called the name of the well Esek; because they strove with him. Esek: that is, Contention
Genesis 26:26
Then Abimelech went to him from Gerar, and Ahuzzath one of his friends, and Phichol the chief captain of his army.
2 Chronicles2 verses
2 Chronicles 14:13
And Asa and the people that were with him pursued them unto Gerar: and the Ethiopians were overthrown, that they could not recover themselves; for they were destroyed before the LORD, and before his host; and they carried away very much spoil. destroyed: Heb. broken
2 Chronicles 14:14
And they smote all the cities round about Gerar; for the fear of the LORD came upon them: and they spoiled all the cities; for there was exceeding much spoil in them.
Archaeology & History
Gerar is most often identified with Tel Haror in the western Negev, a large Bronze and Iron Age mound, though Tel Gerar (Tell Abu Hureira) has also been proposed. Its setting in the dry south country fits the Genesis emphasis on wells and water rights.
People who appear here
Frequently asked about Gerar
Where is Gerar today?
Today, Gerar corresponds to Tel Haror, Israel (probable).
What happened at Gerar in the Bible?
Key biblical events at Gerar include abraham sojourns in gerar; abimelech restores sarah; isaac dwells in gerar and is blessed a hundredfold.
Where is Gerar first mentioned in the Bible?
Gerar is first mentioned in Genesis 10:19.
How often is Gerar mentioned in the Bible?
Gerar is mentioned in 10 verses across 2 books: Genesis, 2 Chronicles.
Who ruled Gerar in the Bible?
Abimelech, called king of the Philistines (Gerar). Both Abraham and Isaac dealt with an Abimelech of Gerar in similar episodes.
What happened to Isaac at Gerar?
God told Isaac to stay in Gerar during a famine and blessed him there with a hundredfold harvest; conflict over wells with the Philistines followed, ending in a covenant of peace.