Bible Meaning: A lodging place, rolling country
Strong's Concordance #H1642
Gerar is one of the lesser cities that, for many years, were controlled by the Philistines in the land of Canaan. Both the patriarchs Abraham (Genesis 20:1) and Isaac (26:1) lived in and around the city.
Gerar is where, for the second time in Scripture, Abraham and Sarah lied to a ruler that she was his sister (Genesis 12:11 - 13, 20:1 - 13). Abraham did this because he feared being murdered so that others could have his beautiful wife!
During his reign, Judah's King Asa (910 to 869 B.C.) experienced a surprise invasion by the Ethiopians. Before he engaged the enemy, however, he cried out to the Lord for help (2Chronicles 14:9 - 11). God's response was to aid his people in a great victory!
Asa was able to chase the retreating enemy all the way to the city, where he also conquered it and its surrounding area (2Chronicles 14). A significant amount of plunder in the form of cattle, sheep and camels was taken by Judah.
Important Verses
Genesis 10:19
And the border of the Canaanite was from Sidon, as thou goest toward Gerar, unto Gaza: as thou goest toward Sodom and Gomorrah and Admah and Zeboiim, unto Lasha.
Genesis 20:1 - 3
And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the land of the South, and dwelt between Kadesh and Shur. And he sojourned in Gerar.
And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister. And Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah. But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man's wife.
Genesis 26:1 - 3, 16 - 17, 20
And there was a famine in the land, besides the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines, unto Gerar.
And the Lord appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of: Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee . . .
And Abimelech said unto Isaac, Go from us; for thou art much mightier than we. And Isaac departed thence, and encamped in the valley of Gerar, and dwelt there . . .
And the herdmen of Gerar did strive with Isaac's herdmen, saying, The water is ours: and he called the name of the well Esek; because they strove with him.
2Chronicles 14:12 - 14
So the Lord smote the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled.
And Asa and the people that were with him pursued them unto Gerar: and the Ethiopians were overthrown, that they could not recover themselves; for they were destroyed before the Lord, and before his host; and they carried away very much spoil.
And they smote all the cities round about Gerar: for the fear of the Lord came upon them: and they spoiled all the cities; for there was exceeding much spoil in them.