Smith's Bible Dictionary

Be-elzebub — Beth-lebaoth

Be-el’zebul (lord of the house), the title of a heathen deity, to whom the Jews ascribed the sovereignty of the evil spirits; Satan, the prince of the devils. Matthew 10:25; Matthew 12:24; Mark 3:22; Luke 11:15-17. The correct reading is without doubt Beelzebul, and not Beelzebub.

Beer

Be’er (a well).

1. One of the latest halting-places of the Israelites, lying beyond the Arnon. Numbers 21:16-18. This is possibly the Beer-elim of Isaiah 15:8.

2. A place to which Jotham, the son of Gideon, fled for fear of his brother Abimelech. Judges 9:21.

Be-era

Be-e’ra (a well), son of Zophah, of the tribe of Asher. 1 Chronicles 7:37. (b.c. after 1450.)

Be-erah

Be-e’rah, prince of the Reubenites, carried away by Tiglath-pileser. 1 Chronicles 5:6. (b.c. 738.)

Be-er-elim

Be-er-e’lim (well of heroes), a spot named in Isaiah 15:8 as on the “border of Moab.” Numbers 21:16; comp. Numbers 21:13.

Be-eri

Be-e’ri.

1. The father of Judith one of the wives of Esau. Genesis 26:34. [ANAH.] (b.c. 1797.)

2. Father of the prophet Hosea. Hosea 1:1. (b.c. before 725.)

Be-er-lahai-roi

Be-er-laha’i-roi (a well of the living), a living spring, Authorized Version, fountain, comp. Jeremiah 6:7, between Kadesh and Bered, in the wilderness. Genesis 24:62.

Be-eroth

Be-e’roth (wells), one of the four cities of the Hivites who deluded Joshua into a treaty of peace with them. Joshua 9:17. It is now el-Bireh, which stands about 10 miles north of Jerusalem.

Be-eroth of the children of Jaakan

Be-e’roth of the children of Jaakan, the wells of the tribe of Bene-Jaakan, which formed one of the halting-places of the Israelites in the desert, Deuteronomy 10:6. In Numbers 33:31 the name is given as Bene-jaakan only.

Be-er-sheba

Be-er’-sheba, or Be-er-she’ba (well of the oath), the name of one of the old places in Palestine which formed the southern limit of the country. There are two accounts of the origin of the name. According to the first, the well was dug by Abraham, and the name given, Genesis 21:31; the other narrative ascribes the origin of the name to Isaac instead of Abraham. Genesis 26:31-33. Beersheba was given to Judah, Joshua 15:28, and then to Simeon. Joshua 19:2; 1 Chronicles 4:28. In the often-quoted “from Dan even unto Beersheba,” Judges 20:1, it represents the southern boundary of Canaan, as Dan the northern. In the time of Jerome it was still a considerable place, and still retains its ancient name—Bir es-Sebâ. There are at present on the spot two principal wells and five smaller ones. The two principal wells are on or close to the northern bank of the Wady es-Sebâ. The larger of the two, which lies to the east, is, according to Dr. Robinson, 12½ feet in diameter, and at the time of his visit (April 12) was 44½ feet to the surface of the water. The masonry which encloses the well extends downward 28½ feet. The other well is 5 feet in diameter, and was 42 feet to the water. The curb-stones around the mouth of both wells are worn into deep grooves by the action of the ropes of so many centuries. These wells are in constant use today. The five lesser wells are in a group in the bed of the wady. On some low hills north of the large wells are scattered the foundations and ruins of a town of moderate size.

Beersheba. (From an original Photograph.)

Be-eshterah

Be-esh’terah (house of Ashterah), one of the two cities allotted to the sons of Gershon out of the tribe of Manasseh beyond Jordan. Joshua 21:27. Probably identical with Ashtaroth. 1 Chronicles 6:71.

Beetle

Beetle. [LOCUST.]

Beeves

Beeves. Same as cattle. Leviticus 22:19. [See BULL.]

Beggar Begging

Beggar, Begging. The poor among the Hebrews were much favored. They were allowed to glean in the fields, and to gather whatever the land produced in the year in which it was not tilled. Leviticus 19:10; Leviticus 25:5, Leviticus 25:6; Deuteronomy 24:19. They were also invited to feasts. Deuteronomy 14:29 and Deuteronomy 26:12. The Israelite could not be an absolute pauper. His land was inalienable, except for a certain term, when it reverted to him or his posterity. And if this resource were insufficient, he could pledge the services of himself and family for a valuable sum. Those who were indigent through bodily infirmities were usually taken care of by their kindred. A beggar was sometimes seen, however, and was regarded and abhorred as a vagabond. Psalm 109:10. In later times beggars were accustomed, it would seem, to have a fixed place at the corners of the streets, Mark 10:46, or at the gates of the temple, Acts 3:2, or of private houses. Luke 16:20.

Behemoth

Be’hemoth (great beasts). There can be little or no doubt that by this word, Job 40:15-24, the hippopotamus is intended, since all the details descriptive of the behemoth accord entirely with the ascertained habits of that animal. The hippopotamus is an immense creature having a thick and square head, a large mouth often two feet broad, small eyes and ears, thick and heavy body, short legs terminated by four toes, a short tail, skin without hair except at the extremity of the tail. It inhabits nearly the whole of Africa, and has been found of the length of 17 feet. It delights in the water, but feeds on herbage on land. It is not found in Palestine, but may at one time have been a native of western Asia.

Hippopotamus.

Bekah

Be’kah. [WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.]

Bel

Bel. [BAAL.]

Bela

Be’la (destruction).

1. One of the five cities of the plain which was spared at the intercession of Lot, and received the name of Zoar. Genesis 14:2; Genesis 19:22. [ZOAR.]

2. Son of Beor, who reigned over Edom in the city of Dinhabah, eight generations before Saul. Genesis 36:31-33; 1 Chronicles 1:43, 1 Chronicles 1:44.

3. Eldest son of Benjamin, according to Genesis 46:21 (Authorized Version “Belah”); Numbers 26:38, Numbers 26:40; 1 Chronicles 7:6; 1 Chronicles 8:1, and head of the family of the Belaites.

4. Son of Ahaz, a Reubenite. 1 Chronicles 5:8.

Belah

Be’lah. [BELA, 3.]

Bela-ites The

Be’la-ites, The. Numbers 26:38. [BELA, 3]

Belial

Be’lial. The meaning of this word as found in the Scriptures is worthlessness, and hence recklessness, lawlessness. The expression son or man of Belial must be understood as meaning simply a worthless, lawless fellow. The term as used in 2 Corinthians 6:15 is generally understood as an appellative of Satan, as the personification of all that was bad.

Bellows

Bellows. The word occurs only in Jeremiah 6:29, where it denotes an instrument to heat a smelting furnace. Wilkinson in “Ancient Egypt,” iii. 338, says, “They consisted of a leather, secured and fitted into a frame, from which a long pipe extended for carrying the wind to the fire. They were worked by the feet, the operator standing upon them, with one under each foot, and pressing them alternately, while he pulled up each exhausted skin with a string he held in his hand.”

Bells

Bells. In Exodus 28:33 the bells alluded to were the golden ones, 72 in number, round the hem of the high priest’s ephod. The object of them was “that his sound might be heard.” Exodus 28:34; Sirach 45:9. To this day bells are frequently attached, for the sake of their pleasant sound, to the anklets of women. The little girls of Cairo wear strings of them around their feet. In Zechariah 14:20 “bells of the horses” were concave or flat pieces of brass, which were sometimes attached to horses for the sake of ornament.

Belshazzar

Belshaz’zar (prince of Bel), the last king of Babylon. In Daniel 5:2 Nebuchadnezzar is called the father of Belshazzar. This, of course, need only mean grandfather or ancestor. According to the well-known narrative, Belshazzar gave a splendid feast in his palace during the siege of Babylon (b.c. 538), using the sacred vessels of the temple, which Nebuchadnezzar had brought from Jerusalem. The miraculous appearance of the handwriting on the wall, the calling in of Daniel to interpret its meaning, the prophecy of the overthrow of the kingdom, and Belshazzar’s death, are recorded in Daniel 5.

Belteshazzar

Belteshaz’zar (favored by Bel). [DANIEL.]

Ben

Ben (son), a Levite, one of the porters appointed by David for the ark. 1 Chronicles 15:18.

Benaiah

Bena’iah (made by the Lord).

1. The son of Jehoiada the chief priest, 1 Chronicles 27:5, of the tribe of Levi, though a native of Kabzeel, 2 Samuel 23:20; set by David, 1 Chronicles 11:25, over his body-guard. 2 Samuel 8:18; 2 Samuel 20:23; 1 Kings 1:38; 1 Chronicles 18:17. One of the mighty men. 2 Samuel 23:22, 2 Samuel 23:23; 1 Chronicles 11:25; 1 Chronicles 27:6. The exploits which gave him this rank are narrated in 2 Samuel 23:20, 2 Samuel 23:21; 1 Chronicles 11:22. He was captain of the host for the third month. 1 Chronicles 27:5. Benaiah remained faithful to Solomon during Adonijah’s attempt on the crown, 1 Kings 1:8, 1 Kings 1:10, 1 Kings 1:32, 1 Kings 1:38, 1 Kings 1:44, and was raised into the place of Joab as commander-in-chief of the whole army. 1 Kings 2:35; 1 Kings 4:4. (b.c. 1005.)

2. Benaiah the Pirathonite, an Ephraimite, one of David’s thirty mighty men, 2 Samuel 23:30; 1 Chronicles 11:31, and the captain of the eleventh monthly course. 1 Chronicles 27:14.

3. A Levite in the time of David, who “played with a psaltery on Alamoth.” 1 Chronicles 15:18, 1 Chronicles 15:20; 1 Chronicles 16:5.

4. A priest in the time of David, appointed to blow the trumpet before the ark. 1 Chronicles 15:24; 1 Chronicles 16:6.

5. A Levite of the sons of Asaph. 2 Chronicles 20:14.

6. A Levite in the time of Hezekiah. 2 Chronicles 31:13.

7. One of the “princes” of the families of Simeon. 1 Chronicles 4:36.

8. Four laymen in the time of Ezra who had taken strange wives. Ezra 10:25, Ezra 10:30, Ezra 10:35, Ezra 10:43.

9. The father of Pelatiah. Ezekiel 11:1, Ezekiel 11:13.

Ben-ammi

Ben-am’mi (son of my people), the son of the younger daughter of Lot, and progenitor of the Ammonites. Genesis 19:38. (b.c. 1897.)

Ben-eberak

Ben-eb’erak (son of lightning), one of the cities of the tribe of Dan, mentioned only in Joshua 19:45.

Bene-jaakan

Bene-ja’akan (sons of Jaakan), a tribe who gave their name to certain wells in the desert which formed one of the halting-places of the Israelites on their journey to Canaan. [BEEROTH BENE-JAAKAN.] Also given in Genesis 36:27 as AKAN.

Bene-kedem

Bene-ke’dem (the children of the East), an appellation given to a people or to peoples dwelling to the east of Palestine. It occurs in Genesis 29:1; Judges 6:3, Judges 6:33; Judges 7:12; Judges 8:10; Job 1:3.

Ben-hadad

Ben-ha’dad (son of Hadad), the name of three kings of Damascus. Benhadad I, king of Damascus, which in his time was supreme in Syria. He made an alliance with Asa, and conquered a great part of the north of Israel. 1 Kings 15:18. His date is b.c. 950.

Ben-hadad II, son of the preceding, and also king of Damascus. Long wars with Israel characterized his reign. Some time after the death of Ahab, Ben-hadad renewed the war with Israel, attacked Samaria a second time, and pressed the siege so closely that there was a terrible famine in the city. But the Syrians broke up in the night in consequence of a sudden panic. Soon after Ben-hadad fell sick, and sent Hazael to consult Elisha as to the issue of his malady. On the day after Hazael’s return Ben-hadad was murdered, probably by some of his own servants. 2 Kings 8:7-15. Ben-hadad’s death was about b.c. 890, and he must have reigned some 30 years.

Ben-hadad III, son of Hazael, and his successor on the throne of Syria. When he succeeded to the throne Jehoash recovered the cities which Jehoahaz had lost to the Syrians, and beat him in Aphek. 2 Kings 13:17, 2 Kings 13:25. The date of Ben-hadad III is b.c. 840.

Ben-hail

Ben-ha’il (son of the host, strong), one of the princes whom King Jehoshaphat sent to teach in the cities of Judah. 2 Chronicles 17:7.

Ben-hanan

Ben-ha’nan (son of the gracious), son of Shimon, in the line of Judah. 1 Chronicles 4:20.

Beninu

Beni’nu (our son), a Levite; one of those who sealed the covenant with Nehemiah. Nehemiah 10:13(Nehemiah 10:14).

Benjamin

Ben’jamin (son of the right hand, fortunate).

1. The youngest of the children of Jacob. His birth took place on the road between Bethel and Bethlehem, near the latter, b.c. 1729. His mother, Rachel, died in the act of giving him birth, naming him with her last breath Ben-oni (son of my sorrow). This was by Jacob changed into Benjamin. Genesis 35:16, Genesis 35:18. Until the journeys of Jacob’s sons and of Jacob himself into Egypt we hear nothing of Benjamin. Nothing personal is known of him. Henceforward the history of Benjamin is the history of the tribe.

2. A man of the tribe of Benjamin, son of Bilhan, and the head of a family of warriors. 1 Chronicles 7:10.

3. One of the “sons of Harim,” an Israelite in the time of Ezra who had married a foreign wife. Ezra 10:32.

Benjamin The tribe of

Ben’jamin, The tribe of. The contrast between the warlike character of the tribe and the peaceful image of its progenitor comes out in many scattered notices. Benjamin was the only tribe which seems to have pursued archery to any purpose, and their skill in the bow, 1 Samuel 20:20, 1 Samuel 20:36; 2 Samuel 1:22; 1 Chronicles 8:40; 1 Chronicles 12:2; 2 Chronicles 17:17, and the sling, Judges 20:16, is celebrated. The dreadful deed recorded in Judges 19 was defended by Benjamin. Later the tribe seems, however, to assume another position, as Ramah, 1 Samuel 9:12, etc., Mizpeh, 1 Samuel 7:5, Bethel and Gibeon, 1 Kings 3:4, were all in the land of Benjamin. After the struggles and contests which followed the death of Saul, the history of Benjamin becomes merged in that of the southern kingdom.

Benjamin The land of

Ben’jamin, The land of. The proximity of Benjamin to Ephraim during the march to the promised land was maintained in the territory allotted to each. That given to Benjamin formed almost a parallelogram, of about 26 miles in length by 12 in breadth, lying between Ephraim, the Jordan, Judah, and Dan. The general level of this part of Palestine is not less than 2000 feet above the Mediterranean or than 3000 feet above the valley of the Jordan, the surrounding country including a large number of eminences—almost every one of which has borne some part in the history of the tribe—and many torrent beds and deep ravines.

Benjamin High gate

Ben’jamin, High gate or Gate of. Jeremiah 20:2; Jeremiah 37:13; Jeremiah 38:7; Zechariah 14:10. [JERUSALEM.]

Beno

Be’no (his son), a Levite of the sons of Merari. 1 Chronicles 24:26, 1 Chronicles 24:27.

Ben-oni

Ben-o’ni (son of my sorrow). Genesis 35:18. [BENJAMIN.]

Ben-zoheth

Ben-zo’heth (son of Zoheth), a descendant of Judah. 1 Chronicles 4:20.

Beon

Be’on. Numbers 32:3. [BETH-BAALMEON.] Comp. ver. Numbers 32:38.

Beor

Be’or (burning or torch).

1. The father of Bela, one of the early Edomite kings. Genesis 36:32; 1 Chronicles 1:43.

2. Father of Balaam. Numbers 22:5; Numbers 24:3, Numbers 24:15; Numbers 31:8; Deuteronomy 23:4; Joshua 13:22; Joshua 24:9; Micah 6:5. He is called Bosor in the New Testament. (b.c. before 1450.)

Bera

Be’ra (son of evil), king of Sodom. Genesis 14:2; also Genesis 14:21.

Berachah

Ber’achah (blessing), a Benjamite who attached himself to David at Ziklag. 1 Chronicles 12:3. (b.c. 1054.)

Berachah Valley of

Ber’achah, Valley of, a valley in which Jehoshaphat and his people assembled to “bless” Jehovah after the overthrow of the hosts of Moabites. 2 Chronicles 20:26. It is now called Bereikût, and lies between Tekua and the main road from Bethlehem to Hebron.

Berachiah

Berachi’ah (blessed of Jehovah), a Gershonite Levite, father of Asaph. 1 Chronicles 6:39. [BERECHIAH.]

Beraiah

Berai’ah (created by Jehovah), son of Shimhi, a chief man of Benjamin. 1 Chronicles 8:21.

Berea

Bere’a (well watered).

1. A city of Macedonia, mentioned in Acts 17:10, Acts 17:13. It is now called Verria or Kara-Verria, and is situated on the eastern slope of the Olympian mountain range, and has 15,000 or 20,000 inhabitants.

2. The modern Aleppo, mentioned in 2 Maccabees 13:4.

3. A place in Judea, apparently not very far from Jerusalem. 1 Maccabees 9:4.

Berechiah

Berechi’ah (blessed of Jehovah).

1. A descendant of the royal family of Judah. 1 Chronicles 3:20.

2. A man mentioned as the father of Meshullam, who assisted in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. Nehemiah 3:4, Nehemiah 3:30; Nehemiah 6:18.

3. A Levite. 1 Chronicles 9:16.

4. A doorkeeper for the ark. 1 Chronicles 15:23.

5. One of the tribe of Ephraim in the time of Ahaz. 2 Chronicles 28:12.

6. Father of Asaph the singer. 1 Chronicles 15:17. [BERACHIAH.]

7. Father of Zechariah. Zechariah 1:1, Zechariah 1:7.

Bered

Be’red (hail).

1. A place in the south of Palestine, near the well Lahairoi. Genesis 16:14.

2. A son or descendant of Ephraim, 1 Chronicles 7:20, possibly identical with Becher in Numbers 26:35.

Berenice

Bereni’ce. [BERNICE.]

Beri

Be’ri (a well), son of Zophah, of the tribe of Asher. 1 Chronicles 7:36.

Beriah

Beri’ah (in evil, or a gift).

1. A son of Asher. Genesis 46:17; Numbers 26:44, Numbers 26:45.

2. A son of Ephraim. 1 Chronicles 7:20, 1 Chronicles 7:23.

3. A Benjamite. 1 Chronicles 8:13, 1 Chronicles 8:16.

4. A Levite. 1 Chronicles 23:10, 1 Chronicles 23:11.

Beriites

Beri’ites. [BERIAH, 1.]

Berites The

Be’rites, The, a tribe of people who are named with Abel and Beth-maachah, and who were therefore doubtless situated in the north of Palestine. 2 Samuel 20:14.

Berith

Be’rith. Judges 9:46. [BAAL-BERITH.]

Bernice

Berni’ce, or Bereni’ce (bringing victory), the eldest daughter of Herod Agrippa I. Acts 12:1, etc. She was first married to her uncle Herod, king of Chaleis, and after his death (a.d. 48) she lived under circumstances of great suspicion with her own brother, Agrippa II, in connection with whom she is mentioned, Acts 25:13, Acts 25:23; Acts 26:30, as having visited Festus on his appointment as procurator of Judea.

Berodach-baladan

Ber’odach-bal’adan. 2 Kings 20:12. [MERODACH-BALADAN.]

Berothah

Bero’thah (toward the wells), Bero’-tha-i (my wells). The first of these two names is given by Ezekiel 47:16, in connection with Hamath and Damascus as forming part of the northern boundary of the promised land. The second is mentioned, 2 Samuel 8:8, in the same connection. The well-known city Beirût (Berytus) naturally suggests itself as identical with one at least of the names; but in each instance the circumstances of the case seem to require a position farther east. They were probably in the vicinity of the springs near the present Hasbeya.

Berothite The

Bero’thite, The. 1 Chronicles 11:39. [BEEROTH.]

Beryl

Beryl (tarshı̂sh) occurs in Exodus 28:20. It is generally supposed that the tarshı̂sh derives its name from the place so called, in Spain. Beryl is a mineral of great hardness, and, when transparent, of much beauty. By tarshı̂sh the modern yellow topaz is probably intended, while in Revelation 21:20 a different stone is perhaps referred to, probably the mineral now called beryl, which is identical with the emerald except in color, being a light green or bluish-green.

Besa-i

Be’sa-i (sword). “Children of Besai” were among the Nethinim who returned to Judea with Zerubbabel. Ezra 2:49; Nehemiah 7:52.

Besodeiah

Besode’iah (in the secret of the Lord), father of one of the repairers of the wall of Jerusalem. Nehemiah 3:6.

Besom

Be’som, a brush or broom of twigs for sweeping. Isaiah 14:23.

Besor The brook

Be’sor, The brook (cool), a torrentbed or wady in the extreme south of Judah. 1 Samuel 30:9, 1 Samuel 30:10, 1 Samuel 30:21.

Betah

Be’tah (confidence), a city belonging to Hadadezer king of Zobah, mentioned with Berothai. 2 Samuel 8:8. In the parallel account, 1 Chronicles 18:8, the name is called Tibhath.

Beten

Be’ten (height), one of the cities on the border of the tribe of Asher. Joshua 19:25.

Beth

Beth, the most general word for a house or habitation. It has the special meaning of a temple or house of worship. Beth is more frequently employed in compound names of places than any other word.

Bethabara

Bethab’ara (house of the ford), a place beyond Jordan, in which, according to the Received Text of the New Testament, John was baptizing. John 1:28. If this reading be correct, Bethabara may be identical with Beth-barah (fords of Abârah), the ancient ford of Jordan on the road to Gilead; or, which seems more likely, with Beth-nimrah, on the east of the river, nearly opposite Jericho. The Revised Version reads Bethany, which see below.

Beth-anath

Beth’-anath (house of echo or reply), one of the “fenced cities” of Naphtali, named with Beth-shemesh, Joshua 19:38; from neither of them were the Canaanites expelled. Judges 1:33.

Beth-anoth

Beth’-anoth (house of echo), a town in the mountainous district of Judah, named with Halhul, Beth-zur and others in Joshua 15:58 only.

Bethany

Beth’any (house of dates, or house of misery), a village which, scanty as are the notices of it contained in Scripture, is more intimately associated in our minds than perhaps any other place with the most familiar acts and scenes of the last days of the life of Christ. It was situated “at” the Mount of Olives, Mark 11:1; Luke 19:29, about fifteen stadia (furlongs, i.e., 1½ or 2 miles) from Jerusalem, John 11:18, on or near the usual road from Jericho to the city, Luke 19:29, comp. Luke 19:1; Mark 11:1, comp. Mark 10:46, and close by the west(?) of another village called Bethphage, the two being several times mentioned together. Bethany was the home of Mary and Martha and Lazarus, and is now known by a name derived from Lazarus—el-˒Azarı̂yeh or Lazarich. It lies on the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives, fully a mile beyond the summit, and not very far from the point at which the road to Jericho begins its more sudden descent towards the Jordan valley. El-˒Azarı̂yeh is a ruinous and wretched village, a wild mountain hamlet of some twenty families. Bethany has been commonly explained “house of dates,” but it more probably signifies “house of misery.” H. Dixon, “Holy Land,” ii. 214, foll.

Bethany

Beth’any. In the Revised Version for Bethabara, John 1:28, where Jesus was baptized by John. It was probably an obscure village near Bethabara, and in time its name faded out and was replaced by the larger and more important Bethabara.

Bethany. (From an original Photograph.)

Beth-arabah

Beth-ar’abah (house of the desert), one of the six cities of Judah which were situated down in the Arabah, the sunk valley of the Jordan and Dead Sea, Joshua 15:61, on the north border of the tribe. It is also included in the list of the towns of Benjamin. Joshua 18:22.

Beth-aram

Beth’-aram (house of the height), accurately Beth-haram, one of the towns of Gad on the east of Jordan, described as in “the valley,” Joshua 13:27, and no doubt the same place as that named Beth-haran in Numbers 32:36.

Beth-arbel

Beth-ar’bel (house of God’s court), named only in Hosea 10:14, as the scene of a sack and massacre by Shalman.

Beth-aven

Beth-a’ven (house of nothingness, i.e., of idols), a place on the mountains of Benjamin, east of Bethel, Joshua 7:2; Joshua 18:12, and lying between that place and Michmash. 1 Samuel 13:5; 1 Samuel 14:23. In Hosea 4:15; Hosea 5:8; Hosea 10:5, the name is transferred to the neighboring Bethel,—once the “house of God,” but then the house of idols, of “naught.”

Beth-azmaveth

Beth-az’maveth (house of Azmaveth). Under this name is mentioned, in Nehemiah 7:28 only, the town of Benjamin which is elsewhere called Azmaveth and Beth-samos.

Beth-baal-meon

Beth-baal-me’on (house of Baal-meon), a place in the possessions of Reuben, on the downs (Authorized Version “plain”) east of Jordan. Joshua 13:17. At the Israelites’ first approach its name was Baal-meon, Numbers 32:38, or, in its contracted form, Beon, Numbers 32:3, to which the Beth was possibly a Hebrew addition. Later it would seem to have come into possession of Moab, and to be known either as Beth-meon, Jeremiah 48:23, or Baal-meon. Ezekiel 25:9. The name is still attached to a ruined place of considerable size a short distance to the southwest of Hesbân, and bearing the name of “the fortress of Mi˒ûn,” or Maıin.

Beth-barah

Beth-ba’rah (house of the ford), named only in Judges 7:24. It derives its chief interest from the possibility that its more modern representative may have been Beth-abara, where John baptized. It was probably the chief ford of the district.

Beth-bire-i

Beth-bir’e-i (house of my creation), a town of Simeon, 1 Chronicles 4:31, which by comparison with the parallel list in Joshua 19:6 appears to have had also the name of Beth-lebaoth. It lay to the extreme south.

Beth-car

Beth’-car (house of the lamb), a place named as the point to which the Israelites pursued the Philistines, 1 Samuel 7:11, and therefore west of Mizpeh.

Beth-dagon

Beth-da’gon (house of Dagon).

1. A city in the low country of Judah, Joshua 15:41, and therefore not far from the Philistine territory.

2. A town apparently near the coast, named as one of the landmarks of the boundary of Asher. Joshua 19:27.

Beth-diblathaim

Beth-diblatha’im (house of fig-cakes), a town of Moab, Jeremiah 48:22, apparently the place elsewhere called Almon-diblathaim.

Bethel

Beth’el (the house of God).

1. A well-known city and holy place of central Palestine, about 12 miles north of Jerusalem. If we are to accept the precise definition of Genesis 12:8, the name of Bethel would appear to have existed at this spot even before the arrival of Abram in Canaan. Genesis 12:8; Genesis 13:3, Genesis 13:4. Bethel was the scene of Jacob’s vision. Genesis 28:11-19; Genesis 31:13. Jacob lived there. Genesis 35:1-8. The original name was Luz. Judges 1:22, Judges 1:23. After the conquest Bethel is frequently heard of. In the troubled times when there was no king in Israel, it was to Bethel that the people went up in their distress to ask counsel of God. Judges 20:18, Judges 20:26, Judges 20:31; Judges 21:2; Authorized Version, “house of God.” Here was the ark of the covenant. Judges 20:26-28; Judges 21:4. Later it is named as one of the holy cities to which Samuel went in circuit. 1 Samuel 7:16. Here Jeroboam placed one of the two calves of gold. Toward the end of Jeroboam’s life Bethel fell into the hands of Judah. 2 Chronicles 13:19. Elijah visited Bethel, and we hear of “sons of the prophets” as resident there. 2 Kings 2:2, 2 Kings 2:3. But after the destruction of the Baal worship by Jehu, Bethel comes once more into view. 2 Kings 10:29. After the desolation of the northern kingdom by the king of Assyria, Bethel still remained an abode of priests. 2 Kings 17:27, 2 Kings 17:28. In later times Bethel is named only once under the scarcely-altered name of Beitı̂n. Its ruins still lie on the right-hand side of the road from Jerusalem to Nablûs.

2. A town in the south part of Judah, named in Joshua 12:16 and 1 Samuel 30:27. In Joshua 15:30; Joshua 19:4; 1 Chronicles 4:29, 1 Chronicles 4:30, the place appears under the names of Chesil, Bethul and Bethuel. Hiel the Bethelite is recorded as the rebuilder of Jericho. 1 Kings 16:34.

3. In Joshua 16:1 and 1 Samuel 13:2 Mount Bethel, a hilly section near Bethel, is referred to.

Beth-emek

Beth-e’mek (house of the valley), a place on or near the border of Asher, on the north side of which was the ravine of Jiphthah-el. Joshua 19:27.

Bether

Be’ther (depth), The mountains of. Song of Solomon 2:17. There is no clue to guide us as to what mountains are intended here.

Bethesda

Bethes’da (house of mercy, or the flowing water), the Hebrew name of a reservoir or tank, with five “porches,” close upon the sheep-gate or “market” in Jerusalem. John 5:2. The largest reservoir—Birket Israil—360 feet long, 120 feet wide and 80 feet deep, within the walls of the city, close by St. Stephen’s Gate, and under the northeast wall of the Haram area, is generally considered to be the modern representative of Bethesda. Robinson, however, suggests that the ancient Bethesda is identical with what is now called the Pool of the Virgin, an intermittent pool, south of Birket Israil and north of the pool of Siloam.

Traditional Pool of Bethesda.

Bethezel

Bethe’zel (neighbor’s house), a place named only in Micah 1:11. From the context it was doubtless situated in the plain of Philistia.

Beth-gader

Beth-ga’der (house of the wall), doubtless a place, though it occurs in the genealogies of Judah as if a person. 1 Chronicles 2:51.

Beth-gamul

Beth-ga’mul (camel-house), a town of Moab, in the downs east of Jordan. Jeremiah 48:23; comp. Jeremiah 48:21.

Beth-gilgal

Beth-gil’gal. Same as Gilgal. Nehemiah 12:29.

Beth-haccerem

Beth-hac’cerem (house of the vine). Nehemiah 3:14; Jeremiah 6:1. A beacon station near Tekoa, supposed to be the Frank Mountain, a few miles southeast of Bethlehem.

Beth-haran

Beth-ha’ran. Numbers 32:36. It is no doubt the same place as Beth-aram. Joshua 13:27.

Beth-hogla

Beth-hog’la (partridge-house), and Hog’lah, a place on the border of Judah, Joshua 15:6, and of Benjamin. Joshua 18:19, Joshua 18:21. A magnificent spring and a ruin between Jericho and the Jordan still bear the names of Ainhajala.

Beth-horon

Beth-ho’ron (house of caverns), the name of two towns or villages, an “upper” and a “nether,” Joshua 16:3, Joshua 16:5; 1 Chronicles 7:24, on the road from Gibeon to Azekah, Joshua 10:10, Joshua 10:11, and the Philistine plain. 1 Maccabees 3:24. Beth-horon lay on the boundary line between Benjamin and Ephraim, Joshua 16:3, Joshua 16:5, and, Joshua 18:13, Joshua 18:14, was counted to Ephraim, Joshua 21:22; 1 Chronicles 7:24, and given to the Kohathites. Joshua 21:22; 1 Chronicles 6:68(1 Chronicles 6:53). The two Beth-horons still survive in the modern villages of Beit-˒ûr, et-tahta and el-foka.

Bethlehem from the Chapel of the Nativity.

Chapel of the Nativity, Bethlehem.

Beth-jeshimoth

Beth-jesh’imoth (house of deserts), or Jes’imoth, a town or place east of Jordan, on the lower level at the south end of the Jordan valley, Numbers 33:49, and named with Ashdod-pisgah and Bethpeor. It was one of the limits of the encampment of Israel before crossing the Jordan. Later is was allotted to Reuben, Joshua 12:3; Joshua 13:20, but came at last into the hands of Moab, and formed one of the cities which were “the glory of the country.” Ezekiel 25:9.

Beth-lebaoth

Beth-leb’aoth (house of lionesses), a town in the lot of Simeon, Joshua 19:6, in the extreme south of Judah. [Joshua 15:32, LEBAOTH.] In 1 Chronicles 4:31 the name is given Beth-birei.