Besor
Dictionary of Bible Names

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Besor
Bible Meaning: Cheerful
Strong's Concordance #H1308

The brook called Besor is mentioned only three times in the KJV Bible. The brook begins at the Mediterranean Sea, just south of Gaza, and travels inland.

The Amalekites, one of Israel's many enemies, attacked Ziklag, burned it to the ground, and captured David's wives (1Samuel 30:21 - 24). David, with God's approval, collects 600 fighting men and pursues the Amalekites to Besor.

At Besor, 200 of David's men are too weary to continue pursuing the Amalekites. They are left behind at the brook while he and the remaining 400 warriors go after the enemy. They ultimately route the Amalekites and take such a huge quantity of booty that it is generously shared with thirteen cities in Judah!

Important Verses

1Samuel 30:1 - 2, 9 - 10, 21, 26 - 27
And it came to pass, when David and his men were come to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the south, and Ziklag, and smitten Ziklag, and burned it with fire; and had taken the women captives . . .

So David went, he and the six hundred men that were with him, and came to the brook Besor, where those that were left behind stayed.

Location of the Besor brook in Israel Map
Location of Besor

But David pursued, he and four hundred men: for two hundred abode behind, which were so faint that they could not go over the brook Besor . . .

And David came to the two hundred men, which were so faint that they could not follow David, whom they had made also to abide at the brook Besor: and they went forth to meet David, and to meet the people that were with him: and when David came near to the people, he saluted them . . .

And when David came to Ziklag, he sent of the spoil unto the elders of Judah, even to his friends, saying, Behold a present for you of the spoil of the enemies of the Lord; To them which were in Bethel, and to them which were in south Ramoth, and to them which were in Jattir. . .

Additional Studies


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Series Notes
References are based on the
King James Bible translation (KJV).