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Well, cistern

Archimandrite Nikifor’s Biblical Encyclopedia

(John 4:6) - from the earliest times water was obtained through excavations of varying depth. Because digging was difficult and water precious in the desert, wells were highly valued throughout the East. They occur repeatedly in the history of the patriarchs, and many places took their names from wells (Gen 21:19, 25, 30-31; 24:11; 26:15, 18, 25). Many biblical wells were probably broad basins receiving and preserving water from natural springs. Some Palestinian wells are very deep and bear marks of such antiquity that they may indeed be the same wells named in Scripture.

Scripture cited

John 4:6Genesis 21:19

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