How Historic City of Beersheba in Israel Prophetically Plays Into Today's Events

Most Christians have heard of the name “Beersheba,” but few may know the mystery that lies behind it and reaches into modern times. This fascinating mystery is another that is revealed in Jonathan Cahn’s newest book, The Oracle: The Jubilean Mysteries Unveiled, an instant New York Times’ bestseller.

In a chapter titled “The Land of Seven Wells,” Cahn writes that when the Bible speaks of Israel’s borders, it uses the phrase “from Dan to Beersheba” (Judges 20:1). Beersheba was Israel’s southernmost border, where the nation began in space—and in time.

Beersheba was central to Israel’s beginning, Cahn writes. The nation began when Abraham had a son, Isaac, who grew up in Beersheba. Abraham was instrumental in Beersheba’s founding and was responsible for its name. It was there he dug a well.

In Genesis 21, it’s recorded that men of the Philistine King Abimelech took possession of Abraham’s well. Abraham approached the king to contend for its return. Abimelech returned it, and the two made a covenant concerning the land. The place was called the Well of the Oath or, in Hebrew, “Beersheba.” Thus, Beersheba takes its name and derives its first biblical significance from Abraham losing his property and then gaining it back. Beersheba constituted Israel’s first legal right and title in the promised land.

In The Oracle, Cahn also reveals how the ancient mystery of the Jubilee has been replaying in modern times—even determining world history. The year 1917 was one of those Jubilean years, and it likewise saw the changing of world history and the fulfillment of Bible prophecy—and Beersheba would play a critical part.

In 1917, the British government issued the Balfour Declaration, which supported the establishment of a “national home for the Jewish people” in Palestine. But there was one problem. The British Empire didn’t have the land to give. It was in the hands of the Ottoman Empire; therefore, something else would have to take place. In the Middle East, British forces were stationed in Egypt. From Egypt, the British military hoped to launch a campaign against the Ottoman Empire in Palestine. But after two attempts to take the city of Gaza and two resulting defeats, that hope was looking less and less likely to be fulfilled. But that would soon change.

“A boy was born into a devout Christian home,” Cahn says. “From childhood, he was immersed in the stories of the Bible and in particular the accounts of the Hebrew Scriptures that his father used to read to him each morning. He learned of the promised land and of its heroes, Joshua, David and Elijah. He would remain an avid student of the Bible his entire life. Though he never desired it, because of closed doors and less-than-ideal circumstances, he ended up in the army.”

That boy would later be known as Gen. Edmund Allenby, another instrument in the outworking of God’s plans for Israel.

In the summer of 1917, Allenby was chosen to replace Gen. Archibald Murray as commander of the British-led forces in Egypt. He spent the remainder of that summer preparing his troops and strategizing for the coming campaign. While Murray had focused on Gaza, Allenby placed his focus on a different city: Beersheba.

In the autumn of that year, British forces began heading to Beersheba with the Australian Light Horsemen. It appeared to be a battle against the odds. But by that evening, the British-led forces had gained Beersheba. News of the victory spread across the world. It was a watershed moment. It was Britain’s first major victory in the Middle East and, some would say, of the war itself. It would also be the breakthrough event that would lead to the restoration of the Jewish people to the land.

“So just as Beersheba was intrinsic to Israel’s beginning, so it would again be intrinsic to the beginning of Israel’s restoration,” Cahn writes. “As it was the first place in the land to be claimed for Abraham and his children, the first to be taken away by others and the first to be restored. So, after 2,000 years of exile, Beersheba would also be the first place to be reclaimed and returned to Abraham’s children. And this all took place in the year of Jubilee, when what is lost must be restored to the original owner.”

Beersheba was regained on Oct. 31, 1917—the same day that the British War Cabinet approved the Balfour Declaration. After 2,000 years, the promise of the land and the beginning of its transference took place on the exact same day.

In the Jubilee, the ancestral land must be relinquished by the one occupying it. And so, in the Jubilean year of 1917, the Ottoman Empire relinquished Beersheba. The victory would lead to the ultimate relinquishing of the entire land of Israel and the ultimate ancestral possession of the Jewish people—Jerusalem. In the day of the liberation of Jerusalem, Gen. Allenby would enter its gates, ascend a platform and declare a new beginning for the city and the land.

“The little boy who had read of the heroes of the promised land had now become one of them,” Cahn said. “The Bible student who never wanted a career as a soldier was now the vessel through which the ancient prophecies would be brought to their fulfillment.”

Jonathan Cahn caused a worldwide stir with the release of his explosive first book, The Harbinger, which became an instant New York Times’ bestseller and brought him to national and international prominence. His next three books were also New York Times’ bestsellers: The Mystery of the Shemitah, The Book of Mysteries and The Paradigm. He was named, along with Billy Graham and Keith Greene, one of the top 40 spiritual leaders of the past 40 years to have radically impacted the world. Called the prophetic voice of this generation, Cahn is a much-sought-after speaker and has been highlighted in The New York Times as well as in many national and international media. He has spoken on Capitol Hill, at the United Nations and to millions of people around the world. Cahn is known for opening the deep mysteries of Scripture and bringing forth messages of prophetic import. He leads Hope of the World ministry, an international outreach of teaching, evangelism and compassion projects for the world’s most needy. He also leads the Jerusalem Center/Beth Israel, a worship center made up of Jews and Gentiles, people of all backgrounds, just outside New York City in Wayne, New Jersey. His ministry can be contacted at HopeoftheWorld.org and Jonathan Cahn Facebook.