Cistern

The rendering of a Hebrew word bor, which means a receptacle for water conveyed to it; distinguished from beer, which denotes a place where water rises on the spot (Jer 2:13; Prov 5:15; Isa 36:16), a fountain. Cisterns are frequently mentioned in Scripture. The scarcity of springs in Palestine made it necessary to collect rain-water in reservoirs and cisterns (Num 21:22).

Empty cisterns were sometimes used as prisons (Jer 38:6; Lam 3:53; Ps 40:2; 69:15). The “pit” into which Joseph was cast (Gen 37:24) was a beer or dry well. There are numerous remains of ancient cisterns in all parts of Palestine.