Dict: smith - BETH

smith:

BETH - B>@ - 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 - B>@ - (house of the ford), a place beyond Jordan, in which according to the Received Text of the New Testament, John was baptizing. kjv@John:1:28) If this reading be correct, Bethabara is identical with Beth-barah (fords of Abarah) 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.

BETHANATH - B>@ - (house of echo or reply), one of the "fenced cities" of Naphtali, named with Beth-shemesh, kjv@Joshua:19:38) from neither of them were the Canaanites expelled. kjv@Judges:1:33)).

BETHANOTH - B>@ - (house of echo), a town in the mountainous district of Judah, named with Halhul, Beth-zur and others in kjv@Joshua:15:58) only.

BETHANY - B>@ - (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, kjv@Mark:11:1; kjv@Luke:19:29) about fifteen stadia (furlongs, i.e. 1 1/2 or 2 miles) from Jerusalem kjv@John:11:18) on or near the usual road From Jericho to the city, kjv@Luke:19:29) comp. kjv@Mark:11:1 comp. kjv@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
- Azariyeh or Lazarieh . 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-’Azariyeh 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," kjv@2:214, foll.

BETHANY - B>@ - In the Revised Version for BETHABARA, kjv@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.

BETHARABAH - B>@ - (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, kjv@Joshua:15:61) on the north border of the tribe. It is also included in the list of the towns of Benjamin. kjv@Joshua:18:22)

BETHARAM - B>@ - (house of the height), accurately BETH

- HARAM, one of the towns of Gad on the east of Jordan, described as in "the valley," kjv@Joshua:13:27) and no doubt the same place as that named BETH

- HARAN in kjv@Numbers:32:36)

BETHAVEN - B>@ - (house of nothingness , i.e. of idols), a place on the mountains of Benjamin, east of Bethel, kjv@Joshua:7:2 kjv@Joshua:18:12) and lying between that place and Michmash. ( kjv@1Samuel:13:5 kjv@1Samuel:14:28) In kjv@Hosea:4:15 kjv@Hosea:5:8 kjv@Hosea:10:5 ) the name is transferred to the neighboring Bethel,
once the "house of God" but then the house of idols of "naught."

BETHBAALMAVETH - B>@ - (house of Azmaveth). Under this name is mentioned, in kjv@Nehemiah:7:28) only, the town of Benjamin which is elsewhere called AZMAVETH and BETH

- SAMOS.

BETHBAALMEON - B>@ - (house of Baalmeon), a place in the possessions of Reuben, on the downs (Authorized Version "plain") east of the Jordan. kjv@Joshua:13:17) At the Israelites’ first approach is name was BAAL

- MEON, kjv@Numbers:32:38) or, in its contracted form, BEON kjv@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, kjv@Jeremiah:48:23) or Baal-meon. kjv@Ezekiel:25:9) The name is still attached to a ruined place of considerable size a short distance to the southwest of Hesban , and bearing the name of "the fortress of Mi’un, " or Makin .

BETHBARAH - B>@ - (house of the ford), named only in kjv@Judges:7:24) It derived its chief interest in the possibility that its more modern representative may have been Beth-abara, where John baptized. It was probably the chief ford of the district.

BETHBIREI - B>@ - (house of my creation), a town of Simeon, ( kjv@1Chronicles:4:31) which by comparison with the parallel list in kjv@Joshua:19:6) appears to have had also the name Of BETH

- LEBAOTH. It lay to the extreme south.

BETHCAR - B>@ - (house of the lamb), a place named as the point to which the Israelites pursued the Philistines, ( kjv@1Samuel:7:11) and therefore west of Mizpeh.

BETHDAGON - B>@ - (house of Dagon). A city in the low country of Judah, kjv@Joshua:15:41) and therefore not far from the Philistine territory. A town apparently near the coast, named as one of the landmarks of the boundary of Asher. kjv@Joshua:19:27)

BETHDIBLATHAIM - B>@ - (house of fig-cakes), a town of Moab, kjv@Jeremiah:48:22) apparently the place elsewhere called ALMON

- DIBLATHAIM.

BETHEL - B>@ - (the house of God) well known city and holy place of central Palestine, about 12 mlles north of Jerusalem. If we are to accept the precise definition of kjv@Genesis:12:8) the name of Bethel would appear to have existed at this spot even before the arrival of Abram in Canaan. kjv@Genesis:12:8 kjv@Genesis:13:3-4) Bethel was the scene of Jacob’s vision. kjv@Genesis:28:11-19 kjv@Genesis:31:13) Jacob lived there. kjv@Genesis:35:1-8) The original name was Luz. kjv@Judges:1:22-23) 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. kjv@Judges:20:18 kjv@Judges:20:26,31; 21:2) Authorized Version, "house of God." Here was the ark of the covenant. kjv@Judges:20:26-28 kjv@Judges:21:4) Later it is named as one of the holy cities to which Samuel went on circuit. ( kjv@1Samuel:7:16) Here Jeroboab placed one of the two calves of gold. Toward the end of Jeroboam’s life Bethel fell into the hands of Judah. ( kjv@2Chronicles:13:19) Elijah visited Bethel, and we hear of "sons of the prophets" as resident there. ( kjv@2Kings:2:2-3) But after the destruction of Baal worship by Jehu Bethel comes once more into view. ( kjv@2Kings:10:29) After the desolation of the northern kingdom by the king of Assyria, Bethel still remained an abode of priests. ( kjv@2Kings:17:27-28) In later times Bethel is named only once under the scarcely-altered name of Beitin . Its ruins still lie on the righthand side of the road from Jerusalem to Nablus. A town in the south part of Judah, named in kjv@Joshua:12:16) and kjv@1Samuel:30:27 In kjv@Joshua:15:30 kjv@Joshua:19:4; kjv@1Chronicles:4:29-30) the place appears under the name of CHESIL, BETHUL and BETHUEL. Hiel the Bethelite is recorded as the rebuilder of Jericho. (Kings:16:34) In kjv@Joshua:16:1) and kjv@1Samuel:13:2 Mount Bethel, a hilly section near Beth-el, is referred to.

BETHEMEK - B>@ - (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 kjv@Joshua:19:27)

BETHER - B>@ - (depth), The mountains of. (Solomon kjv@2:17) There is no clue to guide us as to what mountains are intended here.

BETHESDA - B>@ - (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. kjv@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.

BETHEZEL - B>@ - (neighbor’s house), a place named only in kjv@Micah:1:11) From the context it was doubtless situated in the plain of Philistia.

BETHGADER - B>@ - (house of the wall), doubtless a place, though it occurs in the genealogies of Judah as if a person. ( kjv@1Chronicles:2:51)

BETHGAMUL - B>@ - (camel-house), a town of Moab, in the downs east of Jordan. kjv@Jeremiah:48:23) comp. Jere 48:21

BETHGILGAL - B>@ - Same as Gilgal. kjv@Nehemiah:12:29)

BETHHACCEREM - B>@ - (house of the vine). kjv@Nehemiah:3:14; kjv@Jeremiah:6:1) A beacon station near Tekoa, supposed to be the Frank Mountain , a few miles southeast of Bethlehem.

BETHHARAN - B>@ - kjv@Numbers:32:36) It is no doubt the same place as BETH

- ARAM. kjv@Joshua:13:27)

BETHHOGLA - B>@ - (partridge-house), and Holg’lah a place on the border of Judah, kjv@Joshua:15:6) and of Benjamin. kjv@Joshua:18:19-21) A magnificent spring and a ruin between Jericho and the Jordan still bear the names of Ainhajala.

BETHHORON - B>@ - (house of caverns), the name of two towns or villages, an "upper" and a "nether," kjv@Joshua:16:3-5; kjv@1Chronicles:7:24) on the road from Gibeon to Azekah, kjv@Joshua:10:10-11) and the Philistine plain. 1 Macc. kjv@3:24. Beth-horon lay on the boundary line between Benjamin and Ephraim, kjv@Joshua:16:3-5) and kjv@Joshua:18:13-14 Was counted to Ephraim, kjv@Joshua:21:22; kjv@1Chronicles:7:24) and given to the Kohathites. kjv@Joshua:21:22; kjv@1Chronicles:6:68) (1Chr kjv@6:53) The two Beth-horons still survive in the modern villages of Beit-ur, et-tahta and el-foka .

BETHJESHIMOTH - B>@ - (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, kjv@Numbers:33:49) and named with Ashdod-pisgah and Beth-peor. It was one of the limits of the encampment of Israel before crossing the Jordan. Later it was allotted to Reuben, kjv@Joshua:12:3 kjv@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." kjv@Ezekiel:25:9)

BETHLEBAOTH - B>@ - (house of lionesses), a town in the lot of Simeon, kjv@Joshua:19:6) in the extreme south of Judah. [ kjv@Joshua:15:32) LEBAOTH] In ( kjv@1Chronicles:4:31) the name is given BETH

- BIREI.

BETHLEHEM - B>@ - (house of bread). One of the oldest towns in Palestine, already in existence at the time of Jacob’s return to the country. Its earliest name was EPHRATAH, OR EPHRATH or EPHRATAH.
See kjv@Genesis:35:16 kjv@Genesis:35:19 kjv@Genesis:48:7) After the conquest Bethlehem appears under its own name, BETHLEHEM

- JUDAH. kjv@Judges:17:7; kjv@1Samuel:17:12; kjv@Ruth:1:1-2) The book of Ruth is a page from the domestic history of Bethlehem. It was the home of Ruth, kjv@Ruth:1:19) and of David. ( kjv@1Samuel:17:12) It was fortified by Rehoboam. ( kjv@2Chronicles:11:6) It was here that our Lord was born, kjv@Matthew:2:1) and here that he was visited by the shepherds, kjv@Luke:2:15-17) and the Magi. kjv@Matthew:2. The modern town of Beit-lahm lies to the east of the main road from Jerusalem to Hebron, six miles from the former. It covers the east and northeast parts of the ridge of a long gray hill of Jura limestone, which stands nearly due east and west, and is about a mile in length. The hill has a deep valley on the north and another on the south. On the top lies the village in a kind of irregular triangle. The population is about 3000 souls, entirely Christians. The Church of the Nativity, built by the empress Helena A.D. 330, is the oldest Christian church in existence. It is built over the grotto where Christ is supposed to have been born. A town in the portion of Zebulun, named nowhere but in kjv@Joshua:19:15) Now known as Beit-lahm .

BETHLOMON - B>@ - 1 Esd. kjv@5:17. BETHLEHEM, 1

BETHMAACHAH - B>@ - (house of oppression), a place named only in (2 Samuel 20:14-15) In the absence of more information we can only conclude that it is identical with Maachah or Aram-maachah, one of the petty Syrian kingdoms in the north of Palestine. (Comp. ( kjv@2Kings:15:29)

BETHMARCABOTH - B>@ - (house of the chariots), one of the towns of Simeon, situated to the extreme south of Judah. kjv@Joshua:19:5; kjv@1Chronicles:4:31) In the parallel list, kjv@Joshua:15:31) MADMANNAH occurs in place of Beth-marcaboth.

BETHMEON - B>@ - kjv@Jeremiah:48:23) A contracted form of Beth-baal-meon.

BETHNIMRAH - B>@ - (house of leopards) one of the fenced cities on the east of Jordan taken and built by the tribe of Gad kjv@Numbers:32:36) and described as being in the valley beside Beth-haran. kjv@Joshua:13:27) In kjv@Numbers:32:3) it is called simply NIMRAH. The name still survives in the modern Nahr Nimrim, above Jericho on the Jordan.

BETHPALET - B>@ - (house of flight), a town among those in the extreme south of Judah, named in kjv@Joshua:15:27)

BETHPAZZEZ - B>@ - (house of the dispersion), a town of Issachar named with En-haddah kjv@Joshua:19:21) and of which nothing is known.

BETHPEOR - B>@ - (house of Peor), a place on the east of Jordan, opposite Jericho and six miles above Libias or Beth-haran. kjv@Joshua:13:20 kjv@Joshua:3:29 kjv@Joshua:4:46 )

BETHPHAGE - B>@ - (g hard) (house of figs) the name of a place on the Mount of Olives on the road between Jericho and Jerusalem. It was apparently close to Bethany. kjv@Matthew:21:1; kjv@Mark:11:1; kjv@Luke:19:29)

BETHPHELET - B>@ - kjv@Nehemiah:11:26) BETHPALET

BETHRAPHA - B>@ - a name which occurs in the genealogy of Judah as the son of Eshton. ( kjv@1Chronicles:4:12)

BETHREHOB - B>@ - (house of Rehob), place mentioned as having near it the valley in which lay the town of Laish or Dan. kjv@Judges:18:28) It was one of the little kingdoms of Aram or Syria. (2 Samuel 10:6) Robinson conjectures that this ancient place is represented by the modern Hunin .

BETHSAIDA - B>@ - (house of fish) of Galilee, kjv@John:12:21) a city which was the native place of Andrew, Peter and Philip, kjv@John:1:44 kjv@John:12:21) in the land of Gennesareth, kjv@Mark:6:46) comp. kjv@Mark:6:53 And therefore on the west side of the lake. By comparing the narratives in kjv@Mark:6:31-53) and kjv@Luke:9:10-17 It appears certain that the Bethsaida at which the five thousand were fed must have been a second place of the same name on the east of the lake. (But in reality "there is but one Bethsaida, that known on our maps at Bethsaida Julias." L. Abbot in Biblical and Oriental Journal . The fact is that Bethsaida was a village on both sides of the Jordan as it enters the sea of Galilee on the north, so that the western part of the village was in Galilee and the eastern portion in Gaulonitis, part of the tetrarchy of Philip. This eastern portion was built up into a beautiful city by Herod Philip, and named by him Bethsaida Julias , after Julia the daughter of the Roman emperor Tiberius Caesar. On the plain of Butaiha, a mile or two to the east, the five thousand were fed. The western part of the town remained a small village.
ED.)

BETHSHEAN - B>@ - (house of rest), or in Samuel, BETHSHAN, a city which belonged to Manasseh, ( kjv@1Chronicles:7:29) though within the limits of Issachar kjv@Joshua:17:11) and therefore on the west of Jordan. Comp. 1 Macc. kjv@5:62. In later times it was called Scythopolis. 2 Macc. 12:29. The place is still known as Beisan . It lies in the Ghor or Jordan valley, about twelve miles south of the Sea of Galilee and four miles west of the Jordan.

BETHSHEMESH - B>@ - (house of the sun). One of the towns which marked the north boundary of Judah. kjv@Joshua:15:10) It is now ’Ainshems , about two miles from the great Philistine plain, and seven from Ekron. A city on the border of Issachar. kjv@Joshua:19:22) One of the "fenced cities" of Naphtali. kjv@Joshua:19:38; kjv@Judges:1:33) An idolatrous temple, or place in Egypt. kjv@Jeremiah:43:13) In the middle ages Heliopolis was still called by the Arabs Ain Shems .

BETHSHITTAH - B>@ - (home of the acacia), one of the spots to which the flight of the host of the Midianites extended after their discomfiture by Gideon. kjv@Judges:7:22)

BETHTAPPUAH - B>@ - (house of apples), one of the towns of Judah in the mountainous district, and near Hebron. kjv@Joshua:15:53) comp. 1Chr 2:43 Here it has actually been discovered by Robinson under the modern name of Teffuh , five miles west of Hebron, on a ridge of high table-land.

BETHUEL - B>@ - (dweller in God), the son of Nahor by Milcah; nephew of Abraham, and father of Rebekah, kjv@Genesis:22:22-23 kjv@Genesis:24:15 kjv@Genesis:24:24,47; 28:2) In kjv@Genesis:25:20) and kjv@Genesis:28:5) he is called "Bethuel the Syrian."

BETHUL - B>@ - (dweller in God) a town of Simeon in the south named with Eltolad and Hormah, kjv@Joshua:19:4) called also Chesil and Bethuel. kjv@Joshua:15:30; kjv@1Chronicles:4:30)

BETHZUR - B>@ - (house of rock) a town in the mountains of Judah, built by Jeroboam, kjv@Joshua:15:58; kjv@2Chronicles:11:7) now Beit-zur . It commands the road from Beersheba and Hebron, which has always been the main approach to Jerusalem from the south.