BETH EMEK to BETH HARAN

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BETHELITE

a designation of Hiel (q.v.), who rebuilt Jericho and experienced the curse pronounced long before (1 Kings 16:34).

BETH-EMEK

A city of the territory of the tribe of Asher Jos 19:27

BETHER

dissection or separation, certain mountains mentioned in Cant. So 2:17; probably near Lebanon

Mountains of So 2:17

BETHESDA

house of mercy, a reservoir (Gr. kolumbethra, "a swimming bath") with five porches, close to the sheep-gate or market (Neh. 3:1; John 5:2). Eusebius the historian (A.D. 330) calls it "the sheep-pool."

It is also called "Bethsaida" and "Beth-zatha" (John 5:2, R.V. marg.). Under these "porches" or colonnades were usually a large number of infirm people waiting for the "troubling of the water." It is usually identified with the modern so-called Fountain of the Virgin, in the valley of the Kidron, and not far from the Pool of Siloam (q.v.); and also with the Birket Israel, a pool near the mouth of the valley which runs into the Kidron south of "St. Stephen's Gate."

Others again identify it with the twin pools called the "Souterrains," under the convent of the Sisters of Zion, situated in what must have been the rock-hewn ditch between Bezetha and the fortress of Antonia.

But quite recently Schick has discovered a large tank, as sketched here, situated about 100 feet north-west of St. Anne's Church, which is, as he contends, very probably the Pool of Bethesda. No certainty as to its identification, however, has as yet been arrived at.

(See FOUNTAIN; GIHON.

The pool of Jn 5:24

BETH-EZEL

A town of territory of the tribe of Judah Mic 1:11

BETH-GADER

A place in territory of the tribe of Judah 1Ch 2:51

Probably identical with GEDER Jos 12:13

And with GEDOR in Jos 15:58

BETH-GAMUL

camel-house, a city in the "plain country" of Moab denounced by the prophet (Jer. 48:23); probably the modern Um-el-Jemal, near Bozrah, one of the deserted cities of the Hauran.

A city of Moab Jer 48:23

BETH-GILGAL

house of Gilgal, a place from which the inhabitants gathered for the purpose of celebrating the rebuilding of the walls on the return exile (Neh. 12:29).

(See GILGAL)

BETH-HACCEREM

house of a vineyard, a place in the tribe of Judah (Neh. 3:14) where the Benjamites were to set up a beacon when they heard the trumpet against the invading army of the Babylonians (Jer. 6:1).

It is probable that this place is the modern 'Ain Karim, or "well of the vineyards," near which there is a ridge on which are cairns which may have served as beacons of old, one of which is 40 feet high and 130 in diameter.

A mountain in the territory of the tribe of Judah Ne 3:14; Jer 6:1

BETH-HAGGAN

A garden house 2Ki 9:27 Probably identical with EN-GANNIM Jos 19:21

BETH-HANAN

See ELON-BETH-HANAN

BETH-HARAN

A fortified city east of the Jordan River Nu 32:36 Probably identical with BETH-ARAM Jos 13:27