AROER ə rō’ ər (עַרְעָ֣ר or עֲרﯴעֵ֖ר LXX ̓Αροήρ; naked, bare; perhaps heath in Jer 17:6; 48:6). 1. An ancient city E of the Jordan on the N bank of the river Arnon about fourteen m. from the Dead Sea and known as ’Ara ’ir in modern times. Initially it indicated the southern limit of the Amorite kingdom of Sihon and was taken by Israel under Moses (Deut 2:36; 3:12; 4:48; Josh 12:2). Aroer (along with other conquered cities) was evidently repaired by the sons of Gad (Num 32:34) before being assigned to Reuben (Josh 13:7, 16; Judg 11:26, cf. 1 Chron 5:8). Joab’s census for David began at Aroer (2 Sam 24:5, RSV). In the days of Jehu, Hazael, the powerful king of Syria, took the city from Israel (2 Kings 10:33). Also about this time, Mesha, king of Moab “built Aroer and made the road by the Arnon” (Moabite Stone, line 26). Aroer evidently remained Moabite until the time of Jeremiah who prophesied against it (Jer 48:18-20). Aroer, along with Damascus and Ephraim, is also condemned by Isaiah (17:2 Heb., contra LXX, RSV).

2. A city near Rabbah (Josh 13:25). The site has not been positively identified and it may be that this is the same as 1. above.

3. A city in the Negeb some twelve m. SE of Beersheba and known today as Khirbet ’Ar’areh. David shared his Amalekite spoils with the people of Aroer (1 Sam 30:28) and two sons of Hotham the Aroerite were among David’s mighty men (1 Chron 11:44).

Bibliography On 1. see N. Glueck, “Explorations in Eastern Palestine I,” AASOR, XIV (1934), 3, 36, 49-51. On 2. see N. Glueck, “Explorations in Eastern Palestine II,” AASOR, XVIII, XIX (1939), 168-170, 247, 249. On 3. see N. Glueck, Rivers in the Desert (1959), 131, 132, 184, 185.