Well

A hole dug in the ground to find water. Since water was very scarce in dry Israel, wells were important for people and animals. When a well was dug, rocks were placed around it and a cover over it to keep animals or people from falling in. Some wells were shallow; others were very deep. Sometimes dry wells or cisterns were used as hiding places. Often people fought over wells. Joseph’s brothers threw him into an old, dry well. Among the famous wells in the Bible are the well where Jacob met Rachel, the well of Bethlehem, and the well at Sychar, where Jesus met a Samaritan woman.