Bethel in the Bible

The Old Testament mentions Bethel (formerly named Luz; Gen 28:19; 35:6) more than any other site except Jerusalem, referring to it as both a city and the site of a religious sanctuary. The Bible remains our primary source of information on Bethel. The city features in narratives from the patriarchal period through the divided monarchy (Dumbrell, “Role of Bethel”; van Cangh, “Béthel,” 41–45; Gomes, Sanctuary of Bethel). The New Testament contains no mention of Bethel.

According to Joshua 18:22, Bethel fell within the allotment of the tribe of Benjamin. However, Judges 1:22 records that the northern tribe of Ephraim conquered Bethel. In the divided monarchy, Bethel became the southernmost district of the northern kingdom of Israel. Jeroboam established the two main sanctuaries of the northern kingdom of Israel at Dan and Bethel.