Jump to: Smith's • ATS • ISBE • Easton's • Webster's • Concordance • Thesaurus • Hebrew • Library • Subtopics • Terms • Resources Smith's Bible Dictionary Bethel(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 Israel, 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.
ATS Bible Dictionary BethelHouse of God, the name of a city west of Hai, on the confines of the tribes of Ephraim and Benjamin, Genesis 12:8 28:10-22, and occupying the spot where Jacob slept and had his memorable dream, the name he then gave it superseding the old name Luz, Jude 1:23. Thirty years after, he again pitched his tent there, Genesis 35:1-15. It was captured by Joshua, and given to Benjamin, Joshua 12:9 18:22. The Ephraimites, however, expelled the Canaanites, Jude 1:22-26. Here the ark of the covenant, and probably the tabernacle, long remained, Jud 20:26 1 Samuel 10:3. Samuel held his court here in turn, 1 Samuel 7:16. After Solomon, it became a seat of gross idolatry; Jeroboam choosing it as the place for one of his golden calves, from the sacredness previously attached to it, 1 Kings 12:29. The prophets were charged with messages against Bethel, 1 Kings 13:1,2 Jeremiah 48:13 Am 3:14 7:10. The first of these was fulfilled by Josiah, 2 Kings 23:13; and the others in the later desolation of Bethel, where nothing but ruins can now be found. Its site was identified by Dr. Robinson, in the place now called Beitin. It is twelve miles from Jerusalem towards Shechem, on the southern side of a hill, with a narrow and fertile valley on the east, and the long-traveled road on the west. At the bottom of the hill are the remains of a vast stone reservoir, of an ancient Hebrew age. Easton's Bible Dictionary 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). Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary 1. (n.) A place of worship; a hallowed spot.2. (n.) A chapel for dissenters. 3. (n.) A house of worship for seamen. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia BETHELbeth'-el (beth-'el; Baithel and oikos theou, literally, "house of God"): BETHEL, MOUNT (har beth-'el; Baithel louza (1 Samuel 13:2, the Revised Version (British and American) "the mount of Bethel"; Joshua 16:1)): The hill which stretches from the North of the town to Tell `Acur. The road to Shechem lies along the ridge. An army in possession of these heights easily commanded the route from north to south. Strong's Hebrew 416. El Beth-el -- "the God of Bethel," an altar of Jacob... El Beth-el. 417 . "the God of Bethel," an altar of Jacob. Transliteration: El Beth-el Phonetic Spelling: (ale bayth-ale') Short Definition: El-bethel. ... /hebrew/416.htm - 6k 1017. Beth Haeli -- an inhabitant of Bethel 3870. Luz -- earlier name of Bethel, also a Hittite city 3466. Yeshanah -- a city near Bethel 1008. Betheel -- "house of God," a city in Ephraim, also a place ... 206. Aven -- "wickedness," a contemptuous synonym for two places Library Old and New Year 446. O God of Bethel, by Whose Hand How Jadon the Prophet was Persuaded by Another Lying Prophet and ... The Best Inheritance in Canaan The Chariot of Fire The Same is Proved from the visions which Appeared to Jacob. Jeroboam The Mantle of Elijah The Assyrian Captivity The Sins of Society Chapter xxxv Thesaurus Bethel (67 Occurrences)... 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 ... /b/bethel.htm - 38k Bethel-sarezer (1 Occurrence) El-bethel (1 Occurrence) Luz (7 Occurrences) Ai (32 Occurrences) Bethaven (6 Occurrences) Deborah (10 Occurrences) Beth-aven (6 Occurrences) Hai (2 Occurrences) Jacob (361 Occurrences) Resources What is the significance of Bethel in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is Bethel Church, Redding CA? | GotQuestions.org What is Jesus Culture? Is Jesus Culture biblical? | GotQuestions.org Bethel: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Concordance Bethel (67 Occurrences)Genesis 12:8 Genesis 13:3 Genesis 28:19 Genesis 31:13 Genesis 35:1 Genesis 35:3 Genesis 35:6 Genesis 35:7 Genesis 35:8 Genesis 35:15 Genesis 35:16 Joshua 7:2 Joshua 8:9 Joshua 8:12 Joshua 8:17 Joshua 12:9 Joshua 12:16 Joshua 16:1 Joshua 16:2 Joshua 18:13 Joshua 18:22 Judges 1:22 Judges 1:23 Judges 4:5 Judges 20:18 Judges 20:26 Judges 20:31 Judges 21:2 Judges 21:19 1 Samuel 7:16 1 Samuel 10:3 1 Samuel 13:2 1 Samuel 30:27 1 Kings 12:29 1 Kings 12:30 1 Kings 12:32 1 Kings 12:33 1 Kings 13:1 1 Kings 13:4 1 Kings 13:10 1 Kings 13:11 1 Kings 13:32 1 Kings 16:34 2 Kings 2:2 2 Kings 2:3 2 Kings 2:23 2 Kings 10:29 2 Kings 17:28 2 Kings 23:4 2 Kings 23:15 2 Kings 23:17 2 Kings 23:19 1 Chronicles 7:28 2 Chronicles 13:19 Ezra 2:28 Nehemiah 7:32 Nehemiah 11:31 Jeremiah 48:13 Hosea 10:15 Hosea 12:4 Amos 3:14 Amos 4:4 Amos 5:5 Amos 5:6 Amos 7:10 Amos 7:13 Zechariah 7:2 Subtopics Related Terms |