BETH AVEN to BETH EL APHRAH R V APHRAH A V

BETH-AVEN

house of nothingness; i.e., "of idols", a place in the mountains of Benjamin, east of Bethel (Josh. 7:2; 18:12; 1 Sam. 13:5).

In Hos. 4:15; 5:8; 10:5 it stands for "Bethel" (q.v.), and it is so called because it was no longer the "house of God," but "the house of idols," referring to the calves there worshipped.

A place on the mountains of Benjamin Jos 7:2; 18:12; 1Sa 13:5; 14:23; Ho 4:15; 5:8; 10:5

BETH-AZMAVETH

A town of Benjamin Ne 7:28 Called AZMAVETH Ne 12:29; Ezr 2:24

BETH-BAAL-MEON

A place in the territory of the tribe of Reuben Jos 13:17

Called BAAL-MEON Nu 32:38; Eze 25:9

Called BEON Nu 32:3

Called BETH-MEON Jer 48:23

Subdued by the Israelites Nu 32:3, 4

Assigned to the Reubenites Jos 13:17

BETH-BARAH

house of crossing, a place south of the scene of Gideon's victory (Judg. 7:24). It was probably the chief ford of the Jordan in that district, and may have been that by which Jacob crossed when he returned from Mesopotamia, near the Jabbok (Gen. 32:22), and at which Jephthah slew the Ephraimites (Judg. 12:4).

(See BETHABARA

Nothing, however, is certainly known of it. A place east of the Jordan River Jud 7:24

BETH-BIREI

A town of the territory of the tribe of Simeon 1Ch 4:31

See BETH-LEBAOTH

BETH-CAR

sheep-house, a place to which the Israelites pursued the Philistines west from Mizpeh (1 Sam. 7:11).

A place west of Mizpeh 1Sa 7:11

BETH-DAGON

house of Dagon.

(1.) A city in the low country or plain of Judah, near Philistia (Josh. 15:41); the modern Beit Degan, about 5 miles from Lydda.

(2.) A city near the south-east border of Asher (Josh. 19:27). It was a Philistine colony. It is identical with the modern ruined village of Tell D'auk.

1. A city of the territory of the tribe of Judah Jos 15:41 2. A city of the territory of the tribe of Asher Jos 19:27

BETH-DIBLATHAIM

house of two cakes of figs, a city of Moab, upon which Jeremiah (48:22) denounced destruction. It is called also Almon-diblathaim (Num. 33:46) and Diblath (Ezek. 6:14). (R.V., "Diblah.")

A city of Moab Jer 48:22

Called ALMON-DIBLATHAIM Nu 33:46

BETH-EL

house of God.

(1.) A place in Central Palestine, about 10 miles north of Jerusalem, at the head of the pass of Michmash and Ai. It was originally the royal Canaanite city of Luz (Gen. 28:19). The name Bethel was at first apparently given to the sanctuary in the neighbourhood of Luz, and was not given to the city itself till after its conquest by the tribe of Ephraim. When Abram entered Canaan he formed his second encampment between Bethel and Hai (Gen. 12:8); and on his return from Egypt he came back to it, and again "called upon the name of the Lord" (Gen 13:4).

Here Jacob, on his way from Beersheba to Haran, had a vision of the angels of God ascending and descending on the ladder whose top reached unto heaven (Gen 28:10, 19); and on his return he again visited this place, "where God talked with him" (Gen 35:1-15), and there he "built an altar, and called the place El-beth-el" (q.v.). To this second occasion of God's speaking with Jacob at Bethel, Hosea (Gen 12:4,5) makes reference.

In troublous times the people went to Bethel to ask counsel of God (Judg. 20:18, 31; 21:2). Here the ark of the covenant was kept for a long time under the care of Phinehas, the grandson of Aaron (Judg 20:26-28). Here also Samuel held in rotation his court of justice (1 Sam. 7:16). It was included in Israel after the kingdom was divided, and it became one of the seats of the worship of the golden calf (1 Kings 12:28-33; 13:1).

Hence the prophet Hosea (Hos. 4:15; 5:8; 10:5, 8) calls it in contempt Beth-aven, i.e., "house of idols." Bethel remained an abode of priests even after the kingdom of Israel was desolated by the king of Assyria (2 Kings 17:28, 29). At length all traces of the idolatries were extirpated by Josiah, king of Judah (2 Kings 23:15-18); and the place was still in existence after the Captivity (Ezra 2:28; Neh. 7:32). It has been identified with the ruins of Beitin, a small village amid extensive ruins some 9 miles south of Shiloh.

(2.) Mount Bethel was a hilly district near Bethel (Josh. 16:1; 1 Sam. 13:2).

(3.) A town in the south of Judah (Josh. 8:17; 12:16).

1. A city north of Jerusalem .The ancient city adjacent to, and finally embraced in, was called Luz Jos 18:13; Jud 1:23-26 Abraham estblishes an altar at Ge 12:8; 13:3, 4

The place where Jacob saw the vision of the ladder Ge 28:10-22; 31:13; Ho 12:4 .And builds an altar at Ge 35:1-15 .Deborah dies at Ge 35:8 .Conquered by Joshua Jos 8:17 with Jos 12:16 .Conquered by the household of Joseph Jud 1:22-26 .Allotted to

Benjamin Jos 18:13, 22 .Court of justice held at .By Deborah Jud 4:5 .By Samuel 1Sa 7:16

Tabernacle at, and called HOUSE OF GOD Jud 20:18, 31; 21:2

Jeroboam institutes idolatrous worship at 1Ki 12:25-33; 2Ki 10:29 .Idolatry at Jer 48:13; Am 4:4 .Shalmanezer sends a priest to 2Ki 17:27, 28 .Prophecies against the idolatrous altars at 1Ki 13:1-6, 32; 2Ki 23:4, 15-20; Am 3:14 .The school of prophets at 2Ki 2:3 .The young men of, mock Elisha 2Ki 2:23, 24 .People of, return from Babylon Ezr 2:28; Ne 7:32 .Prophecies against Am 5:5

2. A city in the south of territory of the tribe of Judah 1Sa 30:27 3. A mountain 1Sa 13:2

BETH-EL-APHRAH (R. V.) APHRAH (A. V.)

A place in Philistia Mic 1:10