KING JAMES BIBLE DICTIONARY

Occurs frequently as the appellation for a house, or dwelling-place, in such compounds as the words immediately following:

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.

House of the ford, a place on the east bank of the Jordan, where John was baptizing (John 1:28). It may be identical with Bethbarah, the ancient ford of Jordan of which the men of Ephraim took possession (Judges 7:24). The Revised Version reads "Bethany beyond Jordan." It was the great ford, and still bears the name of "the ford," Makhadhet Abarah, "the ford of crossing over," about 25 miles from Nazareth. (See BETHBARAH.)

the house of confidence

A city east of the Jordan
Judges 7:24

John testifies to Christ's messiahship, and baptizes at
John 1:28

Jesus baptizes at
John 10:39-42

(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 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.

House of response, one of the fenced cities of Naphtali (Joshua 19:38). It is perhaps identical with the modern village Ainata, 6 miles west of Kedesh.

house of affliction

(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)).

A fortified city of Naphtali.
Joshua 19:38; Judges 1:33

House of answers, a city in the mountainous district of Judah (Joshua 15:59). It has been identified with the modern Beit-Anun, about 3 miles northeast of Hebron.

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

A city in Judah.
Joshua 15:59

House of dates.

1. The Revised Version in John 1:28 has this word instead of Bethabara, on the authority of the oldest manuscripts. It appears to have been the name of a place on the east of Jordan.

2. A village on the south-eastern slope of the Mount of Olives (Mark 11:1), about 2 miles east of Jerusalem, on the road to Jericho. It derived its name from the number of palm-trees which grew there. It was the residence of Lazarus and his sisters. It is frequently mentioned in connection with memorable incidents in the life of our Lord (Matthew 21:17; 26:6; Mark 11:11, 12; 14:3; Luke 24:50; John 11:1; 12:1). It is now known by the name of el-Azariyeh, i.e., "place of Lazarus," or simply Lazariyeh. Seen from a distance, the village has been described as "remarkably beautiful, the perfection of retirement and repose, of seclusion and lovely peace." Now a mean village, containing about twenty families.

the house of song; the house of affliction

A village on the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives
John 11:18

Mary, Martha, and Lazarus dwell at
Luke 10:38-41

Lazarus dies and is raised to life at
Luke 43:11

Jesus attends a feast in
Matthew 26:6-13; John 12:1-9

The colt on which Jesus made his triumphal entry into Jerusalem obtained at
Mark 11:1-11

Jesus sojourns at
Matthew 21:17; Mark 11:11-12; Mark 11:19

1. (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. 1 1/2 or 2 miles) from Jerusalem (John 11:18) on or near the usual road From Jericho to the city, (Luke 19:29) comp. 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-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," ii. 214, foll.
2. 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.
3. geographical. This word occurs as the prefix or suffix to the names of several places in Palestine, some of which are as follows-

1. BAAL a town of Simeon, named only in (1 Chronicles 4:33) which from the parallel list in (Joshua 19:8) seems to have been identical with BAALATH-BEER.
2. BAALAH (mistress). A. Another name for KIRJATH-JEARIM, or KIRJATH BAAL, the well-known town now Kuriet el Enab . (Joshua 15:9,10; 1 Chronicles 13:6) b. A town in the south of Judah, (Joshua 15:29) which in Joshua 19:3 Is called BALAH, and in the parallel list, (1 Chronicles 4:29) BILHAH.
3. BAALATH (mistress), a town of Dan named with Gibbethon, Gath-rim-mon and other Philistine places. (Joshua 19:44)
4. BAALATH-BEER (lord of the well). BAAL 1, a town among those in the south part of Judah, given to Simeon, which also bore the name of RAMATH-NEGEB, or "the height of the south." (Joshua 19:8)
5. BAAL-GAD (lord of fortune), used to denote the most northern, (Joshua 11:17; 12:7) or perhaps northwestern, (Joshua 13:5) point to which Joshua's victories extended. It was in all probability a Phoenician or Canaanite sanctuary of Baal under the aspect of Gad or Fortune.
6. BAAL-HAMON (lord of a multitude), a place at which Solomon had a vineyard, evidently of great extent. (Solomon 8:11)
7. BAAL-HAZOR (village of Baal), a place where Absalom appears to have had a sheep-farm, and where Amnon was murdered. (2 Samuel 13:23)
8. MOUNT, MOUNT, MOUNTAIN BAAL-HERMON (Lord of Hermon), (Judges 3:3) and simply Baal-hermon. (1 Chronicles 5:23) This is usually considered as a distinct place from Mount Hermon; but we know that this mountain had at least three names (3:9) and Baal-hermon may have been a fourth in use among the Phoenician worshippers.
9. BAAL-MEON (lord of the house), one of the towns which were built by the Reubenites. (Numbers 32:38) It also occurs in (1 Chronicles 5:8) and on each occasion with Nebo. In the time of Ezekiel it was Moabite, one of the cities which were the "glory of the country." (Ezekiel 25:9)
10. BAAL-PERAZIM (lord of divisions), the scene of a victory of David over the Philistines, and of a great destruction of their images. (2 Samuel 5:20; 1 Chronicles 14:11) See (Isaiah 28:21) where it is called MOUNT, MOUNT, MOUNTAIN PERAZIM.
11. BAAL-SHALISHA (lord of Shalisha), a place named only in (2 Kings 4:42) apparently not far from Gilgal; comp. (2 Kings 4:38)
12. BAAL-TAMAR (lord of the palm tree), a place named only in (Judges 20:33) as near Gibeah of Benjamin. The palm tree (tamar) of Deborah, (Judges 4:5) was situated somewhere in the locality, and is possibly alluded to.
13. BAAL-ZEPHON (lord of the north), a place in Egypt near where the Isr'lites crossed the Red Sea. (Numbers 33:7; Ezekiel 14:2,9) We place Baal-zephon on the western shore of the Gulf of Suez, a little below its head, which at that time was about 30 or 40 miles northward of the Present head.

House of the desert, one of the six cities of Judah, situated in the sunk valley of the Jordan and Dead Sea (Joshua 18:22). In Joshua 15:61 it is said to have been "in the wilderness." It was afterwards included in the towns of Benjamin. It is called Arabah (Joshua 18:18).

house of sweet smell

(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)

A city in the valley of the Dead Sea
Joshua 15:6; Joshua 15:61; Joshua 18:22

Called Arabah
Joshua 18:18

House of the height; i.e., "mountain-house", one of the towns of Gad, 3 miles east of Jordan, opposite Jericho (Joshua 13:27). Probably the same as Beth-haran in Numbers 32:36. It was called by king Herod, Julias, or Livias, after Livia, the wife of Augustus. It is now called Beit-haran.

(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)

house of height

A fortified city of Gad
Joshua 13:27

Probably identical with Beth-Haran
Numbers 32:36

House of God's court, a place alluded to by Hosea (10:14) as the scene of some great military exploit, but not otherwise mentioned in Scripture. The Shalman here named was probably Shalmaneser, the king of Assyria (2 Kings 17:3).

A city spoiled by Shalman.
Hosea 10:14

House of nothingness; i.e., "of idols", a place in the mountains of Benjamin, east of Bethel (Joshua 7:2; 18:12; 1 Samuel 13:5). In Hosea 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.

(house of nothingness , i.e. of idols), a place on the mountains of Benjamin, east of Bethel, (Joshua 7:2; 18:12) and lying between that place and Michmash. (1 Samuel 13:5; 14:28) In (Hosea 4:15; 5:8; 10:5) the name is transferred to the neighboring Bethel,

once the "house of God" but then the house of idols of "naught."

the house of vanity; of iniquity of trouble

A place on the mountains of Benjamin.
Joshua 7:2; Joshua 18:12; 1 Samuel 13:5; 1 Samuel 14:23; Hosea 4:15; Hosea 5:8; Hosea 10:5

house of death's strength

A town of Benjamin
Nehemiah 7:28

Called Azmaveth
Nehemiah 12:29; Ezra 2:24

(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.

(house of Baalmeon), a place in the possessions of Reuben, on the downs (Authorized Version "plain") east of the Jordan. (Joshua 13:17) At the Isr'lites' first approach is 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 Hesban , and bearing the name of "the fortress of Mi'un, " or Makin .

an idol of the dwelling-place

A place in the tribe of Reuben
Joshua 13:17

Called Baal-Meon
Numbers 32:38; Ezekiel 25:9

Called Beon
Numbers 32:3

Called Beth-Meon
Jeremiah 48:23

Subdued by the Israelites
Numbers 32:3-4

Assigned to the Reubenites
Joshua 13:17

House of crossing, a place south of the scene of Gideon's victory (Judges 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 (Genesis 32:22), and at which Jephthah slew the Ephraimites (Judges 12:4). Nothing, however, is certainly known of it. (See BETHABARA.)

(house of the ford), named only in (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.

the chosen house

A place east of Jordan.
Judges 7:24

(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.

the house of my Creator, the house of my health

A town of Simeon.
1 Chronicles 4:31
Bethlebaoth

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

(house of the lamb), a place named as the point to which the Isr'lites pursued the Philistines, (1 Samuel 7:11) and therefore west of Mizpeh.

the house of the lamb

A place west of Mizpeh.
1 Samuel 7:11

House of Dagon.

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

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

(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)

the house of corn, or of fish

1. A city of Judah
Joshua 15:41

2. A city of Asher
Joshua 19:27

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

(house of fig-cakes), a town of Moab, (Jeremiah 48:22) apparently the place elsewhere called ALMON-DIBLATHAIM.

house of dry figs

A city of Moab
Jeremiah 48:22

Called Almon-Diblathaim
Numbers 33:46

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 (Genesis 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 (Genesis 12:8); and on his return from Egypt he came back to it, and again "called upon the name of the Lord" (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 (28:10, 19); and on his return he again visited this place, "where God talked with him" (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 (12:4, 5) makes reference.

In troublous times the people went to Bethel to ask counsel of God (Judges 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 (20:26-28). Here also Samuel held in rotation his court of justice (1 Samuel 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 (Hosea 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; Nehemiah 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 (Joshua 16:1; 1 Samuel 13:2).

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

(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 (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; 13:3,4) Bethel was the scene of Jacob's vision. (Genesis 28:11-19; 31:13) Jacob lived there. (Genesis 35:1-8) The original name was Luz. (Judges 1:22,23) After the conquest Bethel is frequently heard of. In the troubled times when there was no king in Isr'l, it was to Bethel that the people went up in their distress to ask counsel of God. (Judges 20:18,26,31; 21:2) Authorized Version, "house of God." Here was the ark of the covenant. (Judges 20:26-28; 21:4) Later it is named as one of the holy cities to which Samuel went on circuit. (1 Samuel 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. (2 Chronicles 13:19) Elijah visited Bethel, and we hear of "sons of the prophets" as resident there. (2 Kings 2:2,3) But after the destruction of 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 17:27,28) 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.

1. A town in the south part of Judah, named in (Joshua 12:16) and 1 Samuel 30:27 In (Joshua 15:30; 19:4; 1 Chronicles 4:29,30) the place appears under the name of CHESIL, BETHUL and BETHUEL. Hiel the Bethelite is recorded as the rebuilder of Jericho. (1 Kings 16:34)
2. In (Joshua 16:1) and 1 Samuel 13:2 Mount Bethel, a hilly section near Beth-el, is referred to.

the house of God

1. A city north of Jerusalem

The ancient city adjacent to, and finally embraced in, was called Luz
Joshua 18:13; Judges 1:23-26

Abraham establishes an altar at
Genesis 12:8; Genesis 13:3-4

The place where Jacob saw the vision of the ladder
Genesis 28:10-22; Genesis 31:13; Hosea 12:4

Jacob builds an altar at
Genesis 35:1-15

Deborah dies at
Genesis 35:8

Conquered by Joshua
Joshua 8:17; Joshua 12:16

Conquered by the house of Joseph
Judges 1:22-26

Allotted to Benjamin
Joshua 18:13; Joshua 18:22

Court of justice held at, by Deborah
Judges 4:5

Court of justice held at, by Samuel
1 Samuel 7:16

Tabernacle at, and called House of God
Judges 20:18; Judges 20:31; Judges 21:2

Jeroboam institutes idolatrous worship at
1 Kings 12:25-33; 2 Kings 10:29

Idolatry at
Jeremiah 48:13; Amos 4:4

Shalmanezer sends a priest to
2 Kings 17:27-28

Prophecies against the idolatrous altars at
1 Kings 13:1-6; 1 Kings 13:32; 2 Kings 23:4; 2 Kings 23:15-20; Amos 3:14

The school of prophets at
2 Kings 2:3

Children of the school of prophets mock Elisha
2 Kings 2:23-24

People of, return from Babylon
Ezra 2:28; Nehemiah 7:32

Prophecies against
Amos 5:5

2. A city in the south of Judah
1 Samuel 30:27

3. A mountain
1 Samuel 13:2

A place in Philistia.
Micah 1:10

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

house of deepness

(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)

A city of Asher.
Joshua 19:27

Dissection or separation, certain mountains mentioned in Song of Solomon 2:17; probably near Lebanon.

division, or in the trial

Mountains of
Song of Solomon 2:17

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

House of mercy, a reservoir (Gr. kolumbethra, "a swimming bath") with five porches, close to the sheep-gate or market (Nehemiah 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.)

house of pity or mercy

Pool of
John 5:2-4

(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.

a neighbor's house

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

A town of Judah.
Micah 1:11

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

a house for a mouse

A place in Judah
1 Chronicles 2:51

Probably identical with Geder
Joshua 12:13

Probably identical with Gedor
Joshua 15:58

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

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

house of recompense, or of the camel

A city of Moab.
Jeremiah 48:23

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

Same as Gilgal. (Nehemiah 12:29)

House of a vineyard, a place in the tribe of Judah (Nehemiah 3:14) where the Benjamites were to set up a beacon when they heard the trumpet against the invading army of the Babylonians (Jeremiah 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.

(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.

house of the vineyard

A mountain in Judah.
Nehemiah 3:14; Jeremiah 6:1

A garden house
2 Kings 9:27

Probably identical with En-Gannim
Joshua 19:21

See Elon-Beth-Hanan
Elon-Beth-Hanan

(Numbers 32:36) It is no doubt the same place as BETH-ARAM. (Joshua 13:27)

house of grace

A fortified city east of Jordan
Numbers 32:36

Probably identical with Beth-Aram
Joshua 13:27

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

A place on the border of Judah.
Joshua 15:6; Joshua 18:19; Joshua 18:21

House of the hollow, or of the cavern, the name of two towns or villages (2 Chronicles 8:5; 1 Chronicles 7:24) in the territory of Ephraim, on the way from Jerusalem to Joppa. They are distinguished as Beth-horon "the upper" and Beth-horon "the nether." They are about 2 miles apart, the former being about 10 miles north-west of Jerusalem. Between the two places was the ascent and descent of Beth-horon, leading from Gibeon down to the western plain (Joshua 10:10, 11; 18:13, 14), down which the five kings of the Amorites were driven by Joshua in that great battle, the most important in which the Hebrews had been as yet engaged, being their first conflict with their enemies in the open field. Jehovah interposed in behalf of Israel by a terrific hailstorm, which caused more deaths among the Canaanites than did the swords of the Israelites. Beth-horon is mentioned as having been taken by Shishak, B.C. 945, in the list of his conquests, and the pass was the scene of a victory of Judas Maccabeus. (Comp. Exodus 9:19, 25; Job 38:22, 23; Psalms 18:12-14; Isaiah 30:30.) The modern name of these places is Beit-ur, distinguished by el-Foka, "the upper," and el-Tahta, "the nether." The lower was at the foot of the pass, and the upper, 500 feet higher, at the top, west of Gibeon. (See GIBEON.)

(house of caverns), the name of two towns or villages, an "upper" and a "nether," (Joshua 16:3,5; 1 Chronicles 7:24) on the road from Gibeon to Azekah, (Joshua 10:10,11) and the Philistine plain. 1 Macc. 3.24. Beth-horon lay on the boundary line between Benjamin and Ephraim, (Joshua 16:3,5) and Joshua 18:13,14 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-ur, et-tahta and el-foka .

house of wrath

Two ancient cities of Canaan, near which Joshua defeated the Amorites
Joshua 10:10-11; Joshua 16:3; Joshua 16:5; Joshua 18:13; 1 Samuel 13:18; 1 Chronicles 7:24

Solomon builds
1 Kings 9:17; 2 Chronicles 8:5

Taken from Judah by the ten tribes
2 Chronicles 25:13

House of wastes, or deserts, a town near Abel-shittim, east of Jordan, in the desert of Moab, where the Israelites encamped not long before crossing the Jordan (Numbers 33:49; A.V., "Bethjesimoth"). It was within the territory of Sihon, king of the Amorites (Joshua 12:3).

(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 Beth-peor. It was one of the limits of the encampment of Isr'l before crossing the Jordan. Later it was allotted to Reuben, (Joshua 12:3; 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)

A place in Moab
Joshua 12:3; Joshua 13:20; Ezekiel 25:9

Called Beth-Jesimoth
Numbers 33:49

See Ataroth
Ataroth

(R.V. Micah 1:10), house of dust. The Authorized Version reads "in the house of Aphrah." This is probably the name of a town in the Shephelah, or "low country," between Joppa and Gaza.

A town of Simeon
Joshua 19:6

Called Lebaoth
Joshua 15:32

Called Beth-Birei
1 Chronicles 4:31

(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.

house of lionesses

House of bread.

1. A city in the "hill country" of Judah. It was originally called Ephrath (Genesis 35:16, 19; 48:7; Ruth 4:11). It was also called Beth-lehem Ephratah (Micah 5:2), Beth-lehem-judah (1 Samuel 17:12), and "the city of David" (Luke 2:4). It is first noticed in Scripture as the place where Rachel died and was buried "by the wayside," directly to the north of the city (Genesis 48:7). The valley to the east was the scene of the story of Ruth the Moabitess. There are the fields in which she gleaned, and the path by which she and Naomi returned to the town. Here was David's birth-place, and here also, in after years, he was anointed as king by Samuel (1 Samuel 16:4-13); and it was from the well of Bethlehem that three of his heroes brought water for him at the risk of their lives when he was in the cave of Adullam (2 Samuel 23:13-17). But it was distinguished above every other city as the birth-place of "Him whose goings forth have been of old" (Matthew 2:6; comp. Micah 5:2). Afterwards Herod, "when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men," sent and slew "all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under" (Matthew 2:16, 18; Jeremiah 31:15).

Bethlehem bears the modern name of Beit-Lahm, i.e., "house of flesh." It is about 5 miles south of Jerusalem, standing at an elevation of about 2,550 feet above the sea, thus 100 feet higher than Jerusalem.

There is a church still existing, built by Constantine the Great (A.D. 330), called the "Church of the Nativity," over a grotto or cave called the "holy crypt," and said to be the "stable" in which Jesus was born. This is perhaps the oldest existing Christian church in the world. Close to it is another grotto, where Jerome the Latin father is said to have spent thirty years of his life in translating the Scriptures into Latin. (See VERSION.)

2. A city of Zebulun, mentioned only in Joshua 19:15. Now Beit-Lahm, a ruined village about 6 miles west-north-west of Nazareth.

1. A city southwest of Jerusalem

General references
Judges 17:7; Judges 19:18

Called Ephratah

Called Ephrath
Genesis 48:7; Psalms 132:6; Micah 5:2

Called Bethlehem-Judah
Judges 17:7-9; Judges 19:1; Judges 19:18; Ruth 1:1; 1 Samuel 17:12

Rachel dies and is buried at
Genesis 35:16; Genesis 35:19; Genesis 48:7

The city of Boaz
Ruth 1:1; Ruth 1:19; Ruth 2:4; Ruth 8:4

Taken and held by the Philistines
2 Samuel 23:14-16

Jeroboam converts it into a military stronghold
2 Chronicles 11:6

The city of Joseph
Matthew 2:5-6; Luke 2:4

Birthplace of Jesus
Micah 5:2; Micah 40:2; Luke 2:4; Luke 2:15

Herod slays the children of
Matthew 2:16-18

2. A town of Zebulun

Six miles west of Nazareth
Joshua 19:15

Israel judged at
Judges 12:10

(house of bread).

1. 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 (Genesis 35:16,19; 48:7) After the conquest Bethlehem appears under its own name, BETHLEHEM-JUDAH. (Judges 17:7; 1 Samuel 17:12; Ruth 1:1,2) The book of Ruth is a page from the domestic history of Bethlehem. It was the home of Ruth, (Ruth 1:19) and of David. (1 Samuel 17:12) It was fortified by Rehoboam. (2 Chronicles 11:6) It was here that our Lord was born, (Matthew 2:1) and here that he was visited by the shepherds, (Luke 2:15-17) and the Magi. 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.
2. A town in the portion of Zebulun, named nowhere but in (Joshua 19:15) Now known as Beit-lahm .

BETH'LEHEM, noun [Heb. the house of food or bread.]

1. A town or village in Judea, about six miles south-east of Jerusalem; famous for its being the place of Christ's nativity.

2. A hospital for lunatics; corrupted into bedlam.

house of bread

BETH'LEMITE, noun An inhabitant of Bethlehem; a lunatic.

1. In church history, the Bethlemites were a sort of Monks, introduced into England in the year 1257, who were habited like the Dominicans, except that they wore a star with five rays, in memory of the comet or star which appeared over Bethlehem at the nativity of our Savior. There is an order of Bethlemites also in Peru.

1 Esd. 5.17. [BETHLEHEM, 1]

(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. (2 Kings 15:29)

A city of Manasseh.
2 Samuel 20:14-15; 2 Samuel 20:18; 2 Kings 15:29

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

house of bitterness wiped out

A town of Simeon
Joshua 19:5; 1 Chronicles 4:31

Probably identical with Madmannah
Joshua 15:31

(Jeremiah 48:23) A contracted form of Beth-baal-meon.

house of the dwelling-place

See Baal-Meon
Baal-Meon

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

house of rebellion

A fenced city east of Jordan
Joshua 13:27

Called Nimrah
Numbers 32:3

BETHOUGHT', bethaut; , preterit tense and participle passive of bethink.

(house of flight), a town among those in the extreme south of Judah, named in (Joshua 15:27)

house of expulsion

A city in Judah
Joshua 15:27

Called Beth-Phelet
Nehemiah 11:26

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

house of dividing asunder

Town of Issachar.
Joshua 19:21

House of Peor; i.e., "temple of Baal-peor", a place in Moab, on the east of Jordan, opposite Jericho. It was in the tribe of Reuben (Joshua 13:20; Deuteronomy 3:29; 4:46). In the "ravine" or valley over against Beth-peor Moses was probably buried (Deuteronomy 34:6).

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

house of gaping, or opening

A place in the tribe of Reuben
Deuteronomy 3:29; Deuteronomy 4:46; Deuteronomy 34:6

Near the burial place of Moses
Joshua 13:20

House of the unripe fig, a village on the Mount of Olives, on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho (Matthew 21:1; Mark 11:1; Luke 19:29), and very close to Bethany. It was the limit of a Sabbath-day's journey from Jerusalem, i.e., 2,000 cubits. It has been identified with the modern Kefr-et-Tur.

house of my month, or of early figs

A village on the Mount of Olives.
Matthew 21:1; Mark 11:1; Luke 19:29

(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. (Matthew 21:1; Mark 11:1; Luke 19:29)

(Nehemiah 11:26) [BETHPALET]

same as Beth-palet

See Beth-Palet
Beth-Palet

BETHRALL', verb transitive [be and thrall.] To enslave; to reduce to bondage; to bring into subjection. [Little used.]

a name which occurs in the genealogy of Judah as the son of Eshton. (1 Chronicles 4:12)

house of health

Son of Eshton.
1 Chronicles 4:12

(house of Rehob), place mentioned as having near it the valley in which lay the town of Laish or Dan. (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 .

A place in Dan
Judges 18:28; 2 Samuel 10:6

Called Rehob
2 Samuel 10:8

House of fish.

1. A town in Galilee, on the west side of the sea of Tiberias, in the "land of Gennesaret." It was the native place of Peter, Andrew, and Philip, and was frequently resorted to by Jesus (Mark 6:45; John 1:44; 12:21). It is supposed to have been at the modern Ain Tabighah, a bay to the north of Gennesaret.

2. A city near which Christ fed 5,000 (Luke 9:10; comp. John 6:17; Matthew 14:15-21), and where the blind man had his sight restored (Mark 8:22), on the east side of the lake, two miles up the Jordan. It stood within the region of Gaulonitis, and was enlarged by Philip the tetrarch, who called it "Julias," after the emperor's daughter. Or, as some have supposed, there may have been but one Bethsaida built on both sides of the lake, near where the Jordan enters it. Now the ruins et-Tel.

house of fruits, or of food, or of snares

1. A city of Galilee

The city of Philip, Andrew, and Peter
John 1:44; John 12:21

Jesus visits
Mark 6:45

Jesus cures a blind man in
Mark 8:22

Jesus prophesies against
Matthew 11:21; Luke 10:13

2. Desert of, east of the sea of Galilee, Jesus feeds five thousand people in
Luke 9:10; Matthew 14:13; Mark 6:32

(house of fish) of Galilee, (John 12:21) a city which was the native place of Andrew, Peter and Philip, (John 1:44; 12:21) in the land of Gennesareth, (Mark 6:46) comp. Mark 6:53 And therefore on the west side of the lake. By comparing the narratives in (Mark 6:31-53) and 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 C'sar. 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.)

Beth-shean, house of the tooth, or of ivory, or of sleep

See Beth-Shean
Beth-Shean

House of security or rest, a city which belonged to Manasseh (1 Chronicles 7:29), on the west of Jordan. The bodies of Saul and his sons were fastened to its walls. In Solomon's time it gave its name to a district (1 Kings 4:12). The name is found in an abridged form, Bethshan, in 1 Samuel 31:10, 12 and 2 Samuel 21:12. It is on the road from Jerusalem to Damascus, about 5 miles from the Jordan, and 14 from the south end of the Lake of Gennesaret. After the Captivity it was called Scythopolis, i.e., "the city of the Scythians," who about B.C. 640 came down from the steppes of Southern Russia and settled in different places in Syria. It is now called Beisan.

(house of rest), or in Samuel, BETHSHAN, a city which belonged to Manasseh, (1 Chronicles 7:29) though within the limits of Issachar (Joshua 17:11) and therefore on the west of Jordan. Comp. 1 Macc. 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.

A city of Manasseh
1 Chronicles 7:29; Joshua 17:11

Not subdued
Judges 1:27

Bodies of Saul and his sons exposed in
1 Samuel 31:10; 1 Samuel 31:12

Called Beth-Shan
1 Samuel 31:10; 1 Samuel 31:12; 2 Samuel 21:12

District of, under tribute to Solomon's commissariat
1 Kings 4:12

House of the sun.

1. A sacerdotal city in the tribe of Dan (Joshua 21:16; 1 Samuel 6:15), on the north border of Judah (Joshua 15:10). It was the scene of an encounter between Jehoash, king of Israel, and Amaziah, king of Judah, in which the latter was made prisoner (2 Kings 14:11, 13). It was afterwards taken by the Philistines (2 Chronicles 28:18). It is the modern ruined Arabic village Ain-shems, on the north-west slopes of the mountains of Judah, 14 miles west of Jerusalem.

2. A city between Dothan and the Jordan, near the southern border of Issachar (Joshua 19:22), 7 1/2 miles south of Beth-shean. It is the modern Ain-esh-Shemsiyeh.

3. One of the fenced cities of Naphtali (Joshua 19:38), between Mount Tabor and the Jordan. Now Khurbet Shema, 3 miles west of Safed. But perhaps the same as No. 2.

4. An idol sanctuary in Egypt (Jeremiah 43:13); called by the Greeks Heliopolis, and by the Egyptians On (q.v.), Genesis 41:45.

(house of the sun).

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

house of the sun

1. A sacerdotal city of Dan

General references
Joshua 21:16; 1 Samuel 6:15; 1 Chronicles 6:59

On the northern border of Judah
Joshua 15:10; 1 Samuel 6:9; 1 Samuel 6:12

In later times transferred to Judah
2 Kings 14:11

Mentioned in Solomon's commissary districts
1 Kings 4:9

Amaziah taken prisoner at
2 Kings 14:11-13; 2 Chronicles 25:21-23

Retaken by the Philistines
2 Chronicles 28:18

Called Ir-Shemesh
Joshua 19:41

2. A city near Jerusalem
Joshua 19:22

3. A fortified city of Naphtali
Joshua 19:38; Judges 1:33

4. An idolatrous temple
Jeremiah 43:13

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

A place near the Jordan.
Judges 7:22

House of apples, a town of Judah, now Tuffuh, 5 miles west of Hebron (Joshua 15:53).

(house of apples), one of the towns of Judah in the mountainous district, and near Hebron. (Joshua 15:53) comp. 1 Chronicles 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.

A town of Judah.
Joshua 15:53

Man of God, or virgin of God, or house of God.

1. The son of Nahor by Milcah; nephew of Abraham, and father of Rebekah (Genesis 22:22, 23; 24:15, 24, 47). He appears in person only once (24:50).

2. A southern city of Judah (1 Chronicles 4:30); called also Bethul (Joshua 19:4) and Bethel (12:16; 1 Samuel 30:27).

filiation of God

Son of Nahor, father of Rebekah.
Genesis 22:22-23; Genesis 24:15; Genesis 24:24; Genesis 25:20; Genesis 28:2; Genesis 28:5

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

A city of Simeon
Joshua 19:4

Called Chesil
Joshua 15:30

Called Bethuel
1 Chronicles 4:30

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

BETHUMP', verb transitive [be and thump.] To beat soundly. [Little used.]

House of rock, a town in the mountains of Judah (Joshua 15:58), about 4 miles to the north of Hebron. It was built by Rehoboam for the defence of his kingdom (2 Chronicles 11:7). It stood near the modern ed-Dirweh. Its ruins are still seen on a hill which bears the name of Beit-Sur, and which commands the road from Beer-sheba and Hebron to Jerusalem from the south.

(house of rock) a town in the mountains of Judah, built by Jeroboam, (Joshua 15:58; 2 Chronicles 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.

house of a rock

A town in Judah.
Joshua 15:58; 1 Chronicles 2:45; 2 Chronicles 11:7; Nehemiah 3:16