Lexical Summary Aroeri: Aroerite Original Word: עֲרֹעֵרִי Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Aroerite Patronymically from Arow'er; an Aroerite or inhabitant of Aroer -- Aroerite. see HEBREW Arow'er NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom 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 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. 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. Related Biblical Themes • Border towns as staging grounds for God’s work—Jericho (Joshua 6), Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). 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 haaroeRiLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman'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 |
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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).