6200. Aroeri
Lexical Summary
Aroeri: Aroerite

Original Word: עֲרֹעֵרִי
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: `Aro`eriy
Pronunciation: ah-ro-ay-REE
Phonetic Spelling: (ar-o-ay-ree')
KJV: Aroerite
NASB: Aroerite
Word Origin: [patronymically from H6177 (עֲרוֹעֵר עֲרוֹעֵר עַרעוֹר - Aroer)]

1. an Aroerite or inhabitant of Aroer

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Aroerite

Patronymically from Arow'er; an Aroerite or inhabitant of Aroer -- Aroerite.

see HEBREW Arow'er

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from Aroer
Definition
inhab. of Aroer
NASB Translation
Aroerite (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
עֲרֹעֵרִי adjective, of a people of foregoing; ׳הָע 1 Chronicles 11:44.

ערשׂ (√ of following; compare Arabic booth, shed, throne, grape-trellis, woman's (camel-) saddle; Ethiopic booth (? also bed); Assyrian iršu, bed, couch; Late Hebrew עֲרִיסָה cradle, ᵑ7 עַרְסָא, Syriac , Palmyrene ערשא; the common idea is apparently that of a wooden structure, frame, compare NöZMG xi (1886), 737).

Topical Lexicon
Name and Geographic Background

The designation עֲרֹעֵרִי (“Aroerite”) identifies a person originating from Aroer, a border town east of the Jordan River overlooking the Arnon Gorge (Deuteronomy 2:36; Joshua 13:9). A second Aroer lay in the Negev of Judah (1 Samuel 30:28). Both sites guarded strategic caravan routes, and both came under Israelite control during the conquest. Whichever Aroer is intended, the term underscores the breadth of David’s appeal, drawing skilled warriors from distant frontiers into the heart of the united monarchy.

Biblical Occurrence

1 Chronicles 11:44 places the only explicit “Aroerite” in the Old Testament within David’s elite forces: “Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shamma and Jeiel the sons of Hotham the Aroerite”. The Chronicler adapts the earlier list in 2 Samuel 23, adding familial and geographical detail to highlight the diversity and pedigree of the heroes who rallied to David.

Historical Setting

Aroer sat at the intersection of Israelite, Moabite, and Edomite spheres of influence. In the late eleventh to early tenth centuries BC—David’s era—border towns like Aroer were flashpoints in regional power struggles (2 Samuel 8:2). That a family from such a frontier attached itself to David suggests:

• Political realignment: peripheral clans recognized David’s God-given legitimacy before his rule was universally acknowledged.
• Military expertise: men accustomed to defending borderlands brought seasoned skills to the king’s service.
• Tribal integration: the Chronicler’s notice confirms the incorporation of Transjordanian and southern Judahite elements into Israel’s national story.

Theological Significance

David’s kingdom foreshadows the Messiah’s inclusive reign. By naming an Aroerite among the mighty, Scripture affirms that God weaves together people from varied regions into a single covenant community. The Spirit-inspired record also testifies to God’s faithfulness in fulfilling land promises extending to the Arnon (Deuteronomy 2:36), evidencing the unity and continuity of Scripture.

Lessons for Ministry Today

1. Strategic Frontiers: Aroerites remind believers to value ministry on society’s margins, where conflicts and opportunities converge.
2. Family Legacy: Shamma and Jeiel’s exploits flow from the heritage of their father. Faithfulness in the home can yield multigenerational fruit for God’s purposes.
3. Diversity in Service: Just as David’s corps blended tribes and territories, the contemporary church flourishes when different backgrounds unite around the Lord’s anointed King, Jesus Christ.

Related Biblical Themes

• Border towns as staging grounds for God’s work—Jericho (Joshua 6), Bethlehem (Micah 5:2).
• The gathering of faithful warriors—Judges 6:34; 1 Samuel 22:2.
• Inclusion of the nations in covenant blessing—Genesis 12:3; Isaiah 56:6-8; Revelation 5:9.

Summary

Though the title “Aroerite” surfaces only once, it opens a window on the expansive reach of David’s rule, the sovereignty of God over frontiers, and the call for all believers—wherever they come from—to stand courageously beside the King.

Forms and Transliterations
הָעֲרֹעֵרִֽי׃ הערערי׃ hā‘ărō‘êrî hā·‘ă·rō·‘ê·rî haaroeRi
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Englishman's Concordance
1 Chronicles 11:44
HEB: בְּנֵ֖י חוֹתָ֥ם הָעֲרֹעֵרִֽי׃ ס
NAS: the sons of Hotham the Aroerite,
KJV: the sons of Hothan the Aroerite,
INT: the sons of Hotham the Aroerite

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 6200
1 Occurrence


hā·‘ă·rō·‘ê·rî — 1 Occ.

6199
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