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Bethel (North of Jerusalem)
Excerpt from the Lexham Bible Dictionary, the most advanced Bible dictionary.
A valley mentioned in Amos’ oracle against Syria (Amos 1:5). It could be the same place as the Aven mentioned in Hos 10:8, but this is unlikely since other mentions of Aven in the book of Hosea usually refer to Beth-aven.
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The Lexham Bible Dictionary
Aven
Aven (אָ֫וֶן‎, awen). A valley mentioned in Amos’ oracle against Syria (Amos 1:5). It could be the same place as the Aven mentioned in Hos 10:8, but this is unlikely since other mentions of Aven in the book of Hosea usually refer to Beth-aven.
Bethel North of Jerusalem
Bethel North of Jerusalem (בֵּית־אֵל‎, beith-el). A major Bronze Age and Iron Age town located in the central hill country, near Jerusalem, that was inhabited from the late fourth millennium bc to the end of the Iron Age. The site of a major sanctuary of the northern kingdom of Israel.
Hill Country of Bethel
Bethel, Hill Country of (הַר בֵּית־אֵל‎, har beith-el). Part of the territory allotted to the tribes of Manasseh and Ephraim (Josh 16:1). The phrase “hill country of Bethel” is used only once in the Old Testament (1 Sam 13:2), but Bethel is also generally mentioned as being located in a hilly region,
Luz
Luz (לוּז‎, luz). Former name of Bethel (Gen 28:19; 35:6; 48:3; Josh 16:2; 18:13; Judg 1:23). For further details, see this article: Bethel North of Jerusalem.
The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary
Aven (Place)
AVEN (PLACE) [Heb ʾāwen (אָוֶן)]. A Hebrew word meaning “idolatry,” “iniquity,” or “nothingness” used by the OT prophets as a derogatory substitute or wordplay in certain place names. Since the Hebrew words ʾôn (“power” or “riches”) and ʾāwen have identical consonants, Aven may be a derisive pun.
Bethel (Place)
BETHEL (PLACE) [Heb bêtʾēl (בֵּיתְאֵל)]. The name of two places mentioned in the Hebrew Bible. The name means “house of God.”1. An important town in the central hill country of Palestine, located N of Jerusalem and very close to Ai. Next to Jerusalem, this Bethel is the most frequently occurring place
Bochim (Place)
BOCHIM (PLACE) [Heb bōkı̂m (בֹּכִים)]. A place W of the Jordan River near Gilgal and Bethel, where the Israelites wept for their disobedience at the time of Joshua (Judg 2:1–5). The Hebrew and Greek names both mean “Weepers.” After entering the land of Canaan the people of Israel disobeyed God’s command
Luz (Place)
LUZ (PLACE) [Heb lûz (לוּז‎)]. 1. Formerly the place name for Bethel (Gen 28:19; 35:6; 48:3; Judg 1:23; Jub. 27:19, 26). According to Gen 28:10–22, it was Jacob who renamed the place Bethel after he encountered God in that place (M.R. 172148).The tribal-boundary descriptions locate Luz on or near the
Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible
Aven
Aven. 1. Term used by Ezekiel to describe On (Heliopolis), center of worship of the Egyptian sun god Ra (Ez 30:17). The Hebrew word aven (“wickedness”) was a play on the name On in a prophecy against the idolatry and wickedness of Egypt.See Heliopolis.2. Epithet for Bethel (Hos 10:8), shortened from
Bethel, Bethelite (City)
Bethel, Bethelite (City). 1. Important OT city located about 11 miles north of Jerusalem on the north-south ridge road at the tribal borders of Benjamin and Ephraim (Jos 16:1, 2; 18:13). As a trading center Bethel attracted merchandise both from the Mediterranean coast and from Transjordan via Jericho.
Bochim
Bochim. Place near Gilgal mentioned in Judges 2:1, 5 where the angel of the Lord confronted the nation of Israel with their failure to drive out the Canaanite inhabitants of the land. For their disobedience, judgment was pronounced. The heathen peoples would become “thorns” in their sides, and their
Luz
Luz. 1. Original Canaanite name of the city of Bethel (Gn 28:19; 35:6). It was here that Jacob had a vision of God. In recognition of God’s presence he called the place “the house of God” (beth-El). Jacob may not have been in the city itself, which might account for the seeming discrepancy in Joshua
The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Revised
Bethel (North of Jerusalem)
1. A city located W of Ai on the main N-S watershed route near where the boundaries of Benjamin and Ephraim met. It was situated about 12 mi (19 km) N of Jerusalem, and was identified with the modern Tell Beitîn by Edward Robinson in the 19th century. This mound has been excavated at various times between
Bethel
Bethel bethʹəl [Heb. bêṯ-’ēl—‘house of God’; Gk. Baithēl, oíkos theoú].
Bethel, Hill Country of
Bethel, Hill Country of [Heb. har bêṯ-’ēl] (1 S. 13:2); AV MOUNT BETHEL.The Heb. har can designate either “mountain” or “hill.” The term here refers to no specific mountain, but a hilly area. Thus the RSV and NEB translation is preferable to the AV. In Josh. 16:1 the RSV and NEB read “hill country
Bochim
Bochim bōʹkim [Heb. habbōḵîm—‘the weepers’]; NEB BOKIM. A place on the mountain W of Gilgal said to have been so named because Israel wept there at the remonstrance of the angel (Jgs. 2:1, 5). No name resembling this has been discovered. Many, following the LXX, identify it with Bethel.
Luz
1. A Canaanite city, renamed Bethel by Jacob (Gen. 28:19). This tradition is also preserved in Gen. 35:6; Josh. 18:13; Jgs. 1:23; Jub 27:19, 26. However, Josh. 16:2 reads “then going from Bethel to Luz,” suggesting that these are two places. The MT has mibbêṯ-ʾēl lûzāh (with hê directive), “from
Luz
2. A city in the land of the Hittites built by a man who had escaped from Canaanite Luz after betraying it to “the house of Joseph” (Jgs. 1:26). It could be anywhere in the region now known as Syria and Lebanon, which the Hittites occupied. Simon (GTTOT, p. 283) suggested that Luweizeh, halfway between
Tyndale Bible Dictionary
Aven
AVEN1. Term used by Ezekiel to describe On (Heliopolis), center of worship of the Egyptian sun god Ra (Ez 30:17). The Hebrew word aven (“wickedness”) was a play on the name On in a prophecy against the idolatry and wickedness of Egypt. See Heliopolis.2. Epithet for Bethel (Hos 10:8), shortened from
Bethel (Place), Bethelite
BETHEL (Place), BETHELITE*1. Important OT city located about 11 miles (17.7 kilometers) north of Jerusalem on the north-south ridge road at the tribal borders of Benjamin and Ephraim (Jos 16:1–2; 18:13). Hiel, a resident of the city, is referred to as a Bethelite in 1 Kings 16:34 (kjv). As a trading
Bochim
BOCHIM* Place near Gilgal mentioned in Judges 2:1–5 where the angel of the Lord confronted the nation of Israel with their failure to drive out the Canaanite inhabitants of the land. For their disobedience, judgment was pronounced. The heathen peoples would become “thorns” in their sides, and their gods,
Luz
LUZ1. Original Canaanite name of the city of Bethel (Gn 28:19; 35:6). It was here that Jacob had a vision of God. In recognition of God’s presence he called the place “the house of God” (beth-El). Jacob may not have been in the city itself, which might account for the seeming discrepancy in Joshua 16:2.
The HarperCollins Bible Dictionary (Revised and Updated)
Aven (Valley)
Aven (ay´ven; Heb., “evil power”).1 A term used to describe Bethel in Hosea’s indictment (10:9). As such, it was an abbreviation for Beth-aven (“house of wickedness”), a pejorative term for Bethel used in Hos. 4:15; 5:8; 10:5. See also Beth-aven.2 A derisive term for a valley mentioned in Amos 1:5.
Bethel
Bethel (beth´uhl; Heb., “house of God”), an important biblical city (modern Beitin) on the north-south mountain road north of Jerusalem. Bethel had few natural defenses, but it did have plentiful water from nearby springs. It also stood at the intersection of the north-south road that passed through
Luz
Luz (luhz).1 The Canaanite name of the city that was renamed Bethel by Jacob (Gen. 28:19; 35:6). Luz/Bethel was on the border between Benjamin and Ephraim (Josh. 16:2; 18:13; Judg. 1:23). Josh. 16:2 implies that Luz and Bethel are distinct places. Nevertheless, on the basis of all other references,
The Wycliffe Bible Encyclopedia
Aven
AVEN1. Aven is the name applied by Ezekiel (Ezk 30:17) to the famous Egyptian worship center of On (Gen 41:45), also called Heliopolis. As he prophesied of the desolation to be visited by God upon Egypt, this world renowned city for the worship of Ra the Sun-god is described by the prophet as Aven—“nothingness.”
Bethel
BETHEL (“House of God”)1. A town in the southern part of Israel, evidently in the vicinity of Ziklag. Probably Bethel, Bethul and Bethuel (q.v.) are names by which it was known (Josh 19:4; 1 Sam 30:27; 1 Chr 4:30). Its site is not currently identified.2. A town on the border between Benjamin and Ephraim,
Bochim
BOCHIM. A place W of Jordan near Gilgal, probably so named (lit., “the weepers”) because Israel wept there at the remonstrance of the angel of the Lord (Jdg 2:1, 5).
Luz
LUZ1. The earlier name of Bethel (Gen 28:19; 35:6; Josh 18:13; Jdg 1:23). The name Luz (“almond tree”) also appears in Gen 48:3; Josh 16:2.The texts of Josh 16:2 and 18:13 deserve special attention. A problem is posed by the earlier reference, for the text speaks of the boundary of the descendants
The New Bible Dictionary, Third Edition
Aven
AVEN. 1. Abbreviated (Ho. 10:8) for *Beth-aven, epithet of Bethel (Ho. 4:15, etc.). 2. In Am. 1:5, probably the Beqa‘valley between Lebanon and Anti-lebanon in the Aramaean kingdom of Damascus. 3. For Ezk. 30:17, see *On.K. A. Kitchen.
Bethel
BETHEL. Identified by most scholars with Tell Beitīn on the watershed route 19 km N of Jerusalem. Although traces of earlier occupation have been found, the city seems to have been established early in the Middle Bronze Age. During this period, Abram camped to the E of Bethel, where he built an altar
Luz
LUZ. The ancient name of *Bethel, which was so named by Jacob after he had dreamed of the ladder from heaven to earth after spending the night near to the city (Gn. 28:19; 35:6; 48:3). It was the site of Jacob’s sojourn near to the city, rather than the city itself, that received the name Bethel (Jos.
Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible
Aven
Aven (Heb. ʾāwen)1. An abbreviation of Beth-aven, the pejorative nickname (“House of Wickedness”) of the town and sanctuary of Bethel (“House of God”; Hos. 10:8; cf. Jer. 4:15). Amos first coined the derogatory pun (Amos 5:5), and Hosea embraced it (Hos. 4:15; 10:5).2. A derisive epithet for an Aramaean
Bethel (Place)
Bethel (Heb. bêṯ-ʾēl) (PLACE)1. An important city (“house of God”) strategically located at a crossroads 19 km. (12 mi.) N of Jerusalem at the border of Ephraim/Benjamin (for the source of that ambiguity compare Josh. 18:22 and Judg. 1:22) and Judah. Only the city of Jerusalem is mentioned more frequently
Bochim
Bochim (Heb. bōḵɩ̂m)A place (“Weepers”) W of the Jordan River where the Israelites wept for their disobedience in breaking their covenant with the Lord (Judg. 2:4–5). The site is unknown but was probably near Gilgal, in the hill country west of Jericho. Bochim has been associated with Bethel, where
Luz
Luz (Heb. lûz)1. The site of Jacob’s ladder dream. Jacob used a stone as a pillow, and when he awoke, he anointed the stone with oil and called it Bethel, “house of God” (Gen. 28:10–22; cf. 35:6; 48:3; Josh. 18:13; Judg. 1:23). Josh. 16:2 suggests that two distinct sites are intended, but most likely
Eerdmans Bible Dictionary
Bochim
Bochim [bōˊkĭm] (Heb. habbōḵîm “the weepers”). The name given to a place where the Israelites broke into loud weeping on account of the angel’s rebuke for their breaking the covenant (Judg. 2:5). Although the actual site is unknown, it must have been located in the hill country west of Jericho.
The Archaeological Encyclopedia of the Holy Land
Beth-El
BETH-EL A town on the border of the territory of Ephraim (Josh. 16:1–4), identified with Beitin at an important road junction 11 miles north of Jerusalem. Abraham built an altar there and at Hai (Ai) and Jacob had his dream there (Gen. 28:10–22), naming the place ‘House of God’, which is the meaning
Catholic Bible Dictionary
Bethel
BETHEL A town about fourteen miles north of Jerusalem, identified with the modern Tell Beitin, although el-Bireh has also been suggested. Over time Bethel became a city of religious importance, so the name is mentioned with great frequency in the Old Testament—both positively, as the place where the
See also
Places Nearby
Ai (of Joshua)
Allon-bacuth
El-bethel
Topics & Themes
Aven
Luz