Lexical Definition
בֵּית־אֵל Bêyth-ʼÊl (bayth-ale') Bethel N:N--L
from בַּיִת and אֵל; house of God
Beth-el.
- § Bethel = "house of God"
- Beth-El, a place in Palestine
1) ancient place and seat of worship in Ephraim on border of Benjamin, identified with Luz (former name)
2) a place in south country of Judah, not far from Beersheba and Ziklag
| Form | Translated As | In Verse(s) |
|---|---|---|
| בְּבֵֽית | in Beth- | 1Sam.30.27 |
| אֵ֛ל | -el | 1Sam.30.27 |
Extended Information
- a place in south country of Judah
Brown-Driver-Briggs
ֵבּיתְאֵל71 proper name, of a location Bethel (so read, not בֵּיתאֵֿל as Josh 7:2 + according to see d. H; compare Baer Gen 12:8 house of God, or house of El) —
1. ancient place and seat of worship in Ephraim on border of Benjamin, identification with Luz (former name) Gen 28:19; Gen 35:6; Josh 18:13; Judg 1:23 apparently distinguished from Luz Josh 16:2 (yet compare Di); name connected with vision of Jacob when journeying to Paddan-Aram (JE) Gen 28:19; Gen 35:7 (where אֵל ֵבּיתְאֵל, but ᵐ5 ᵑ6 ᵑ9 Ol strike out אֵל; Di maintains); compare Hos 12:5* when journeying from P.-A. Hos 35:15 (P); name apparently given first to a stone (Gen 28:18; Gen 35:14) compare WeSkizzen iii. 70; הַר ֵבּיתְאֵל 1Sam 13:2 later important place of worship 1Sam 10:3 עָלָה אֶלֿ הָאֱלֹהִים בֵּיתְאֵל; abode of prophet 1Kgs 13:11; 2Kgs 2:3 Jeroboam set up one of the golden calves at Bethel 1Kgs 12:29f. compare also 1Kgs 13:1f; 2Kgs 10:29; 2Kgs 23:15; Jer 48:13 see further 2Kgs 17:28; 2Kgs 23:15 Th proposes on internal grounds, בֵּית אַל house of nothingness, or אָלָה ׳בּ house of execration; אָלָה ׳בּ also RenHist. iii. 185; in prophets Amos 3:14; Amos 4:4; Amos 5:5 (twice in verse); Amos 5:6; Amos 7:10; Amos 7:13; Hos 10:15 note especially Amos 5:5 ביתאל יִהְיֶה לְאָ֑וֶן, & בֵּית אָוֶן (house of iniquity) as substitute for ביתאל Hos 4:15; Hos 5:8; Hos 10:5 (עֶגְלוֺת בית און); — modern Beitîn RobBR i. 448 f. GuérinJudée iii. 14-27 compare BdPal 215 Surveyii. 305.
2. place in south country of Judah, not far from Beersheba & Ziklag 1Sam 30:27 compare We Dr; = ᵑ0 כסיל Josh 15:30 (text error; ᵐ5 Βαιθηλ); also בְּתוּל Josh 19:4, בְּתוּאֵל 1Chr 4:30.
Brown-Driver-Briggs References
| Book | Refs |
|---|---|
| Genesis | 12:8 · 28:18 · 28:19 · 35:6 · 35:7 · 35:14 |
| Joshua | 7:2 · 15:30 · 16:2 · 18:13 · 19:4 |
| Judges | 1:23 |
| 1 Samuel | 10:3 · 13:2 · 30:27 |
| 1 Kings | 12:29 · 13:1 · 13:11 |
| 2 Kings | 2:3 · 10:29 · 17:28 · 23:15 |
| 1 Chronicles | 4:30 |
| Jeremiah | 48:13 |
| Hosea | 4:15 · 5:8 · 10:5 · 10:15 · 12:5* · 35:15 |
| Amos | 3:14 · 4:4 · 5:5 · 5:6 · 7:10 · 7:13 |
Profile
Bethel_2 • Town in Judah that received spoils from David's victory.
Bethel was a town in Judah that received spoils from David's victory over the Amalekites. (1 Samuel 30:27)
- A location near Beersheba בְּאֵר שֶׁבַע first mentioned at Jos.12.16;
- referred to as Bethel בֵּית־אֵל, or Bethuel בְּתוּאֵל, or Bethul בְּתוּל.
This Bethel was a town in the southern region of Judah, distinct from the more famous Bethel in the north where Jacob had his vision. It is listed among the cities allocated to the tribe of Simeon within Judah's territory (Joshua 19:4). The same settlement appears in the genealogical records of 1 Chronicles 4:30 as part of Simeon's territory.
The town gained some prominence during David's early career when he sent some of the spoils from his victory over the Amalekites to its elders (1 Samuel 30:27). This gesture was part of David's political strategy of building alliances with the towns of Judah.
Probably corresponds to the settlement called Bethuel in some passages, though its exact modern location remains uncertain.
Note: Care must be taken not to confuse this southern Bethel with the more prominent northern city of the same name where significant events in the lives of Abraham, Jacob, and Jeroboam took place. The references provided relate specifically to this southern settlement.