Reference: Bethel
American
House of God, the name of a city west of Hai, on the confines of the tribes of Ephraim and Benjamin, Ge 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, Jg 1:23. Thirty years after, he again pitched his tent there, Ge 35:1-15. It was captured by Joshua, and given to Benjamin, Jos 12:9; 18:22. The Ephraimites, however, expelled the Canaanites, Jg 1:22-26. Here the ark of the covenant, and probably the tabernacle, long remained, Jg 20:26; 1Sa 10:3. Samuel held his court here in turn, 1Sa 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, 1Ki 12:29. The prophets were charged with messages against Bethel, 1Ki 13:1-2; Jer 48:13; Am 3:14; 7:10. The first of these was fulfilled by Josiah, 2Ki 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.
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Then departed he thence unto a mountain that lieth on the east side of Bethel and pitched his tent - Bethel being on the west side, and Ai on the east - and he built there an altar unto the LORD, and called on the name of the LORD.
Jacob departed from Beersheba and went toward Haran, and came unto a place and tarried there all night, because the son was down. And took a stone of the place, and put it under his head, and laid him down in the same place to sleep. read more. And he dreamed: and behold there stood a ladder upon the earth, and the top of it reached up to heaven. And see, the angels of God went up and down upon it. Yea, and the LORD stood upon it and said, "I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father and the God of Isaac: The land which thou sleepest upon will I give thee and thy seed. And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth: And thou shalt spread abroad: west, east, north and south. And through thee and thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. And see, I am with thee, and will be thy keeper in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land: Neither will I leave thee; until I have made good all that I have promised thee." When Jacob was awaked out of his sleep, he said, "Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware." And he was afraid, and said, "How fearful is this place? It is none other, but even the house of God and the gate of heaven!" And Jacob stood up early in the morning and took the stone that he had laid under his head, and pitched it up on end, and poured oil on the top of it. And he called the name of the place Bethel, for indeed the name of the city was called Luz before time. And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, "If God will be with me and will keep me in this journey which I go and will give me bread to eat, and clothes to put on, so that I come again unto my father's house in safety: then shall the LORD be my God, and this stone which I have set up on end, shall be God's house. And of all that thou shalt give me, will I give the tenth unto thee."
And God said unto Jacob, "Arise and get thee up to Bethel, and dwell there. And make there an altar unto God that appeared unto thee, when thou fleddest from Esau thy brother." Then said Jacob unto his household, and to all that were with him, "Put away the strange gods that are among you and make yourselves clean, and change your garments, read more. and let us arise and go up to Bethel, that I may make an altar there, unto God which heard me in the day of my tribulation and was with me in the way which I went." And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which were under their hands, and all their earrings which were in their ears, and Jacob hid them under an oak at Shechem. And they departed. And the fear of God fell upon the cities that were round about them, that they durst not follow after the sons of Jacob. So came Jacob to Luz in the land of Canaan, otherwise called Bethel, with all the people that was with him. And he built there an altar, and called the place Elbethel: because that God appeared unto him there, when he fled from his brother. Then died Debora, Rebekah's nurse, and was buried beneath Bethel under an oak. And the name of it was called the oak of lamentation. And God appeared unto Jacob again after he came out of Mesopotamia, and blessed him, and said unto him, "Thy name is Jacob. Notwithstanding thou shalt be no more called Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name." And so was his name called Israel. And God said unto him, "I am God almighty: grow and multiply; for people and a multitude of people shall spring of thee, yea and kings shall come out of thy loins. And the land which I gave Abraham and Isaac, will I give unto thee, and unto thy seed after thee will I give it also." And God departed from him in the place where he talked with him. And Jacob set up a mark in the place where he talked with him; even a pillar of stone, and poured drink offering thereon and poured also oil thereon, and called the name of the place where God spake with him, Bethel.
And in like manner the house of Joseph went up to Bethel and the LORD with them, and the house of Joseph searched out Bethel which before time was called Luz.
and the house of Joseph searched out Bethel which before time was called Luz. And the spies saw a man come out of the city and they said unto him, "Show us the way into the city, and we will show thee mercy." read more. And he showed them the way into the city, and they smote it with the edge of the sword, but let the man and all his household go free. And the man went into the land of the Hittites, and built a city and called the name thereof Luz, which is the name thereof unto this day.
Then the children of Israel and all the people went up and came unto Bethel, and wept and sat there before the LORD, and fasted the same day unto evening, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.
and went about year by year, to Bethel, Gilgal and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places, and came again to Ramah:
And behold, there came a man of God out of Judah with the word of God, to Bethel, as Jeroboam stood by the altar to offer, and cried against the altar at the commandment of the LORD and said, "Altar, altar, thus sayeth the LORD: 'Behold, a child shall be born of the house of David, Josiah by name, which upon thee shall offer the priests of the hill altars that sacrifice upon thee, and shall burn men's bones upon thee.'"
And the hill altars that were before Jerusalem on the righthand of the mount Nashith, which Solomon king of Israel built to Ashtoreth the abomination of the Sidonians and to Chemosh the abomination of the Moabites, and to Milcom the abomination of the children of Ammon, the king defiled:
And Moab shall be ashamed of Chemosh, like as Israel was ashamed of Bethel, wherein she put her trust.
'That when I begin to visit the wickedness of Israel, I will visit the altars at Bethel also: so that the horns of the alter shall be broken off, and fall to the ground.
Upon this sent Amaziah the priest to Bethel unto Jeroboam the king of Israel, saying, "Amos maketh the house of Israel to rebel against thee; the land cannot away with his words.
Easton
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 (Ge 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 (Ge 12:8); and on his return from Egypt he came back to it, and again "called upon the name of the Lord" (Ge 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 (Ge 28:10,19); and on his return he again visited this place, "where God talked with him" (Ge 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 (Ho 12:4-5) makes reference.
In troublous times the people went to Bethel to ask counsel of God (Jg 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 (Jg 20:26-28). Here also Samuel held in rotation his court of justice (1Sa 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 (1Ki 12:28-33; 13:1). Hence the prophet Hosea (Ho 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 (2Ki 17:28-29). At length all traces of the idolatries were extirpated by Josiah, king of Judah (2Ki 23:15-18); and the place was still in existence after the Captivity (Ezr 2:28; Ne 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 (Jos 16:1; 1Sa 13:2).
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Then departed he thence unto a mountain that lieth on the east side of Bethel and pitched his tent - Bethel being on the west side, and Ai on the east - and he built there an altar unto the LORD, and called on the name of the LORD.
and unto the place of the altar which he made before. And there called Abram upon the name, of the LORD.
And he called the name of the place Bethel, for indeed the name of the city was called Luz before time.
And he called the name of the place Bethel, for indeed the name of the city was called Luz before time.
And God said unto Jacob, "Arise and get thee up to Bethel, and dwell there. And make there an altar unto God that appeared unto thee, when thou fleddest from Esau thy brother." Then said Jacob unto his household, and to all that were with him, "Put away the strange gods that are among you and make yourselves clean, and change your garments, read more. and let us arise and go up to Bethel, that I may make an altar there, unto God which heard me in the day of my tribulation and was with me in the way which I went." And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which were under their hands, and all their earrings which were in their ears, and Jacob hid them under an oak at Shechem. And they departed. And the fear of God fell upon the cities that were round about them, that they durst not follow after the sons of Jacob. So came Jacob to Luz in the land of Canaan, otherwise called Bethel, with all the people that was with him. And he built there an altar, and called the place Elbethel: because that God appeared unto him there, when he fled from his brother. Then died Debora, Rebekah's nurse, and was buried beneath Bethel under an oak. And the name of it was called the oak of lamentation. And God appeared unto Jacob again after he came out of Mesopotamia, and blessed him, and said unto him, "Thy name is Jacob. Notwithstanding thou shalt be no more called Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name." And so was his name called Israel. And God said unto him, "I am God almighty: grow and multiply; for people and a multitude of people shall spring of thee, yea and kings shall come out of thy loins. And the land which I gave Abraham and Isaac, will I give unto thee, and unto thy seed after thee will I give it also." And God departed from him in the place where he talked with him. And Jacob set up a mark in the place where he talked with him; even a pillar of stone, and poured drink offering thereon and poured also oil thereon, and called the name of the place where God spake with him, Bethel.
So that there was not a man left in Ai, or in Bethel, that went not out after Israel. And they left the city open and followed after Israel.
And the lot of the children of Joseph fell from Jordan by Jericho, unto the water of Jericho eastward, and the wilderness that goeth up from Jericho throughout mount Bethel:
And the children of Israel arose and went up to Bethel, and asked of God, who should begin the battle against the children of Benjamin, and the LORD said, "Judah shall begin."
Then the children of Israel and all the people went up and came unto Bethel, and wept and sat there before the LORD, and fasted the same day unto evening, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD. And they asked the LORD - for there was the ark of the covenant of God, in those days; read more. and Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron waiting upon it at that time - and they said, "Shall we go out any more to battle against the children of Benjamin our brethren, or shall we cease?" And the LORD said, "Go. For tomorrow I will deliver them into your hands."
Then came the children of Benjamin against the people, till they were drawn a great way from the city. And they began to smite of the people dead - as twice before, by two highways of which one goeth up to Bethel and the other to Gibeah through the field - upon a thirty men of Israel.
And the people came to Bethel and abode there till evening, before God, and lifted up their voices and wept sore,
and went about year by year, to Bethel, Gilgal and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places, and came again to Ramah:
Whereupon the king took counsel and made two calves of gold and said unto the people, "Ye shall not need to go any more to Jerusalem. Behold your gods, Israel, which brought you out of the land of Egypt!" And he put the one in Bethel and the other in Dan. read more. And that doing was a cause of sin. And the people went before the one as far as Dan. And he made houses of hill altars, and made, of the lowest of the people, priests which were not of the sons of Levi. And Jeroboam made a feast the fifteenth day of the eighth month, like unto the feast that was in Judah, and offered on the altar. And so did he in Bethel, to offer unto the calves that he had made. And he put in Bethel the priests of the hill altars, which he had made. And he offered upon the altar which he had made in Bethel, the fifteenth day of the eighth month, which he had imagined of his own heart: and made a solemn feast unto the children of Israel, and went up to the altar to burn sacrifice.
And behold, there came a man of God out of Judah with the word of God, to Bethel, as Jeroboam stood by the altar to offer,
And then one of the priests which they had carried thence, went and dwelt in Bethel, and taught them how they should fear the LORD. Howbeit, every nation made their own gods and put them in the houses of the Hill altars which the Samaritans had made, every nation in their cities where they dwelt.
Moreover the altar that was at Bethel, the hill altar made by Jeroboam the son of Nebat which made Israel sin - both the altar and also the hill - he brake down and burnt the hill and stamped it to powder, and burnt the grove. And as Josiah turned himself, he spied the graves that were in the mount and sent and fetched the bones out of the graves and burnt them upon the altar and polluted it according to the word of the LORD that the man of God had proclaimed, which openly had denounced the same things. read more. Then the king said, "What meaneth yonder grave stone that I see?" And the men of the city told him, "It is the sepulchre of the man of God, which came from Judah and openly denounced the selfsame things that thou hast done to the altar of Bethel." And he said, "Let him be: see that no man move his bones." And so his bones escaped with the bones of a Prophet that came out of Samaria.
Though thou, Israel, are disposed to play the harlot, yet shouldest not thou have offended, O Judah. Thou shouldest not have run to Gilgal, nor gone up to Bethaven, nor have sworn, 'The LORD liveth.'
Blow with the shawmes at Gibeah, and with the trumpet in Ramah, cry out at Bethaven upon the yon-side of Benjamin.
They that dwell in Samaria have worshiped the calf of Bethaven: therefore shall the people mourn over them, yea and the priests also, that in their wealthiness rejoiced with them. And why? It shall pass away from them.
The high places of Aven, where Israel do sin, shall be cast down: thistles and thorns shall grow upon their altars. Then shall they say to the mountains, "Cover us," and to the hills, "Fall upon us."
He strove with the angel, and gat the victory: so that he prayed and desired him. He found him at Bethel, and there he talked with us. Yea, the LORD God of hosts, even the LORD himself remembered him:
Fausets
("house of God".)
1. Abram pitched his tent on a mountain E. of Bethel, abounding in pasture (Ge 12:8; 13:3). The city, near the place, then bore the Canaanite name Luz. Bethel is the name given by anticipation to the place; appropriately so, as Abram virtually made it the "house of God." It was expressly so named by Jacob, when he had the vision of the heavenly ladder, on his way from his father at Beersheba to Harsh (Ge 28:19; 31:13). He set up a pillar, and anointed it with oil, to mark the place where God spoke with him. Bethel, the place, is expressly distinguished from Luz, the old Canaanite city. "Jacob called the name of that place Bethel, but the name of that city was called Luz at the first" (Jos 16:1-2). The naming of Bethel Jacob repeated more publicly on his return home, 20 years later, with his family purified of idols, when God again appeared to him, and confirmed his change of name to Israel (Ge 35:1-15; 32:28).
Bethel belonged by lot to Benjamin, but was falcon by Ephraim (Bethel being on his southern border) through the treachery of an inhabitant (Jg 1:22-26). It was about 12 miles N. of Jerusalem. In Jg 20:26 translate for "the house of God" Bethel. During the civil war with Benjamin the tribes took the ark thither to consult God (compare 1Sa 10:3). It was one of Samuel's towns of circuit for judging (1Sa 7:16). One of Jeroboam's two sanctuaries for the calf worship, selected doubtless because of its religious associations (1 Kings 12-13). There the prophet from Judah foretold the overthrow of the calf altar by Josiah. Abijah, king of Judah, took Bethel from Jeroboam (2Ch 13:19), but it was soon recovered by Israel. Under Ahab the Baal worship at Samaria and Jezreel drew off attention from the calf worship at Bethel. This accounts for a school of prophets of Jehovah being there in Elijah's time (2Ki 2:2-3).
The existence of "bears," two, near the town, implies that Bethel was then less frequented (2Ki 2:23-25). Under Jehu, who restored the calf worship, and Jeroboam II his great grandson, Bethel comes again into prominence (2Ki 10:29). Bethel became the king's chapel" (sanctuary) "the king's court" ("house of the kingdom") (Am 7:13; 3:14-15). More altars, besides the original one were erected. "Summer and winter houses" too, and "great houses" and "houses of ivory." After the overthrow of Israel, the king of Assyria sent one of the Israelite priests to settle at Bethel, and teach the new settlers from Babylon, Cuthah, Ava, Hamath, and Sepharvaim, "the manner of the god of the land," and "how they should fear Jehovah" (2Ki 17:27-28). Josiah, as foretold, defiled the altar with dead men's bones, but disturbed not the sepulchre of the prophet of Judab when he discerned its title. It was ordered by God that the votaries of the calf worship at Bethel never dared to violate the sepulchre and title of the prophet who denounced their idol. The worship of Jehovah and of the calves had been all along strangely blended. (See BETHAVEN.)
Among those returning from captivity were men of Bethel (Ezr 2:28; Ne 7:32; 11:31.) The ruins, covering three or four acres, still bear a like name, Beitin, on a low bill, between two wadies, which unite in the main valley of es-Suweinit, toward the S.E. Bethel still abounds in stones such as Jacob used for his pillow and afterward for a sanctuary. On the round mount S.E. of Bethel. Abram doubtless built the altar, and afterwards stood with Lot when giving him his choice of the land (Ge 12:7; 13:10). E. of this mount stands the ruin Tel er Rijmah, "the mound of the heap," answering to Ai or Hai. Ritter makes Medinet Gai answer to Ai.
2. A town in southern Judah (Jos 12:16; 1Sa 30:27). Bethel in Jos 19:4 answers to Chesil in Jos 15:30. Bethuel, 1Ch 4:30. Hiel of Bethel rebuilt Jericho under the curse (1Ki 16:34).
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Then the LORD appeared unto Abram and said, "Unto thy seed will I give this land." And he built an altar there unto the LORD which appeared to him.
Then the LORD appeared unto Abram and said, "Unto thy seed will I give this land." And he built an altar there unto the LORD which appeared to him. Then departed he thence unto a mountain that lieth on the east side of Bethel and pitched his tent - Bethel being on the west side, and Ai on the east - and he built there an altar unto the LORD, and called on the name of the LORD.
Then departed he thence unto a mountain that lieth on the east side of Bethel and pitched his tent - Bethel being on the west side, and Ai on the east - and he built there an altar unto the LORD, and called on the name of the LORD.
And he went on his journey from the south even unto Bethel, and unto the place where his tent was at the first time between Bethel and Ai,
And he went on his journey from the south even unto Bethel, and unto the place where his tent was at the first time between Bethel and Ai,
Then Lot lift up his eyes, and beheld all the country about Jordan: that it was a plenteous country of water. For, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, it was round about Zoar, even as the pleasant garden of the LORD, and as the land of Egypt.
Then Lot lift up his eyes, and beheld all the country about Jordan: that it was a plenteous country of water. For, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, it was round about Zoar, even as the pleasant garden of the LORD, and as the land of Egypt.
And he called the name of the place Bethel, for indeed the name of the city was called Luz before time.
And he called the name of the place Bethel, for indeed the name of the city was called Luz before time.
I am the God of Bethel where thou anointedest the stone and where thou vowdest a vow unto me. Now arise and get thee out of this country, and return unto the land where thou wast born.'"
I am the God of Bethel where thou anointedest the stone and where thou vowdest a vow unto me. Now arise and get thee out of this country, and return unto the land where thou wast born.'"
And he said, "Thou shalt be called Jacob no more, but Israel. For thou hast wrestled with God and with men and hast prevailed."
And he said, "Thou shalt be called Jacob no more, but Israel. For thou hast wrestled with God and with men and hast prevailed."
And God said unto Jacob, "Arise and get thee up to Bethel, and dwell there. And make there an altar unto God that appeared unto thee, when thou fleddest from Esau thy brother."
And God said unto Jacob, "Arise and get thee up to Bethel, and dwell there. And make there an altar unto God that appeared unto thee, when thou fleddest from Esau thy brother." Then said Jacob unto his household, and to all that were with him, "Put away the strange gods that are among you and make yourselves clean, and change your garments,
Then said Jacob unto his household, and to all that were with him, "Put away the strange gods that are among you and make yourselves clean, and change your garments, and let us arise and go up to Bethel, that I may make an altar there, unto God which heard me in the day of my tribulation and was with me in the way which I went."
and let us arise and go up to Bethel, that I may make an altar there, unto God which heard me in the day of my tribulation and was with me in the way which I went." And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which were under their hands, and all their earrings which were in their ears, and Jacob hid them under an oak at Shechem.
And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which were under their hands, and all their earrings which were in their ears, and Jacob hid them under an oak at Shechem. And they departed. And the fear of God fell upon the cities that were round about them, that they durst not follow after the sons of Jacob.
And they departed. And the fear of God fell upon the cities that were round about them, that they durst not follow after the sons of Jacob. So came Jacob to Luz in the land of Canaan, otherwise called Bethel, with all the people that was with him.
So came Jacob to Luz in the land of Canaan, otherwise called Bethel, with all the people that was with him. And he built there an altar, and called the place Elbethel: because that God appeared unto him there, when he fled from his brother.
And he built there an altar, and called the place Elbethel: because that God appeared unto him there, when he fled from his brother. Then died Debora, Rebekah's nurse, and was buried beneath Bethel under an oak. And the name of it was called the oak of lamentation.
Then died Debora, Rebekah's nurse, and was buried beneath Bethel under an oak. And the name of it was called the oak of lamentation. And God appeared unto Jacob again after he came out of Mesopotamia, and blessed him,
And God appeared unto Jacob again after he came out of Mesopotamia, and blessed him, and said unto him, "Thy name is Jacob. Notwithstanding thou shalt be no more called Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name." And so was his name called Israel.
and said unto him, "Thy name is Jacob. Notwithstanding thou shalt be no more called Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name." And so was his name called Israel. And God said unto him, "I am God almighty: grow and multiply; for people and a multitude of people shall spring of thee, yea and kings shall come out of thy loins.
And God said unto him, "I am God almighty: grow and multiply; for people and a multitude of people shall spring of thee, yea and kings shall come out of thy loins. And the land which I gave Abraham and Isaac, will I give unto thee, and unto thy seed after thee will I give it also."
And the land which I gave Abraham and Isaac, will I give unto thee, and unto thy seed after thee will I give it also." And God departed from him in the place where he talked with him.
And God departed from him in the place where he talked with him. And Jacob set up a mark in the place where he talked with him; even a pillar of stone, and poured drink offering thereon and poured also oil thereon,
And Jacob set up a mark in the place where he talked with him; even a pillar of stone, and poured drink offering thereon and poured also oil thereon, and called the name of the place where God spake with him, Bethel.
And the lot of the children of Joseph fell from Jordan by Jericho, unto the water of Jericho eastward, and the wilderness that goeth up from Jericho throughout mount Bethel:
And the lot of the children of Joseph fell from Jordan by Jericho, unto the water of Jericho eastward, and the wilderness that goeth up from Jericho throughout mount Bethel: and then goeth out from Bethel to Luz, and runneth along unto the borders of Archiataroth;
and then goeth out from Bethel to Luz, and runneth along unto the borders of Archiataroth;
And in like manner the house of Joseph went up to Bethel and the LORD with them,
And in like manner the house of Joseph went up to Bethel and the LORD with them, and the house of Joseph searched out Bethel which before time was called Luz.
and the house of Joseph searched out Bethel which before time was called Luz. And the spies saw a man come out of the city and they said unto him, "Show us the way into the city, and we will show thee mercy."
And the spies saw a man come out of the city and they said unto him, "Show us the way into the city, and we will show thee mercy." And he showed them the way into the city, and they smote it with the edge of the sword, but let the man and all his household go free.
And he showed them the way into the city, and they smote it with the edge of the sword, but let the man and all his household go free. And the man went into the land of the Hittites, and built a city and called the name thereof Luz, which is the name thereof unto this day.
And the man went into the land of the Hittites, and built a city and called the name thereof Luz, which is the name thereof unto this day.
Then the children of Israel and all the people went up and came unto Bethel, and wept and sat there before the LORD, and fasted the same day unto evening, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.
Then the children of Israel and all the people went up and came unto Bethel, and wept and sat there before the LORD, and fasted the same day unto evening, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.
and went about year by year, to Bethel, Gilgal and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places, and came again to Ramah:
and went about year by year, to Bethel, Gilgal and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places, and came again to Ramah:
Then thou shalt go forth from thence and shalt come to the oak of Tabor. And there shalt thou meet three men going to God to Bethel: one carrying three kids; and another carrying three loaves of bread; and the third carrying a bottle of wine.
Then thou shalt go forth from thence and shalt come to the oak of Tabor. And there shalt thou meet three men going to God to Bethel: one carrying three kids; and another carrying three loaves of bread; and the third carrying a bottle of wine.
In his days Hiel of Bethel built Jericho. And it cost him Abiram his eldest son when he laid the foundation, and his youngest son when he set up the gates, agreeing unto the word of the LORD which he spake by Joshua the son of Nun.
In his days Hiel of Bethel built Jericho. And it cost him Abiram his eldest son when he laid the foundation, and his youngest son when he set up the gates, agreeing unto the word of the LORD which he spake by Joshua the son of Nun.
Elijah and Elisha were going from Gilgal, and Elijah said to Elisha, "Tarry here, I pray thee, for the LORD hath sent me to Bethel." But Elisha said, "As surely as the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee." And when they came to Bethel,
Elijah and Elisha were going from Gilgal, and Elijah said to Elisha, "Tarry here, I pray thee, for the LORD hath sent me to Bethel." But Elisha said, "As surely as the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee." And when they came to Bethel, the children of the Prophets that were at Bethel came out to Elisha and said to him, "Knowest thou not how that the LORD will take away thy master from thee this day?" And he said, "I know it too; hold your peace."
the children of the Prophets that were at Bethel came out to Elisha and said to him, "Knowest thou not how that the LORD will take away thy master from thee this day?" And he said, "I know it too; hold your peace."
And he went from thence up to Bethel. And as he was going up in the way, there came little lads out of the city and mocked him, and said to him, "Go up, thou bald head! Go up thou baldhead!"
And he went from thence up to Bethel. And as he was going up in the way, there came little lads out of the city and mocked him, and said to him, "Go up, thou bald head! Go up thou baldhead!" And he turned back and looked on them and cursed them in the name of the LORD. And there came two bears out of the wood and tare forty two of the boys.
And he turned back and looked on them and cursed them in the name of the LORD. And there came two bears out of the wood and tare forty two of the boys. And he went from thence to mount Carmel, and from thence went again to Samaria.
But from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat which made Israel sin with the golden calves in Bethel and Dan, Jehu departed not.
But from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat which made Israel sin with the golden calves in Bethel and Dan, Jehu departed not.
Then the king of Assyria commanded, saying, "Carry thither one of the priests which ye brought thence, and let him go and dwell there, and teach them the fashion how to serve the God of the country."
Then the king of Assyria commanded, saying, "Carry thither one of the priests which ye brought thence, and let him go and dwell there, and teach them the fashion how to serve the God of the country." And then one of the priests which they had carried thence, went and dwelt in Bethel, and taught them how they should fear the LORD.
And then one of the priests which they had carried thence, went and dwelt in Bethel, and taught them how they should fear the LORD.
And Abijah followed after Jeroboam and won certain cities from him: Bethel with the towns belonging thereto, and Jeshanah with the towns that belonged thereto, and Ephron with her towns.
And Abijah followed after Jeroboam and won certain cities from him: Bethel with the towns belonging thereto, and Jeshanah with the towns that belonged thereto, and Ephron with her towns.
The children of Benjamin of Geba, dwelt at Michmash, and Aija, Bethel, and in their villages.
The children of Benjamin of Geba, dwelt at Michmash, and Aija, Bethel, and in their villages.
'That when I begin to visit the wickedness of Israel, I will visit the altars at Bethel also: so that the horns of the alter shall be broken off, and fall to the ground.
'That when I begin to visit the wickedness of Israel, I will visit the altars at Bethel also: so that the horns of the alter shall be broken off, and fall to the ground. As for the winter house and summer house, I will smite them down: and the houses of Ivory, yea and many other houses shall perish, and be destroyed,' sayeth the LORD."
As for the winter house and summer house, I will smite them down: and the houses of Ivory, yea and many other houses shall perish, and be destroyed,' sayeth the LORD."
and prophesy no more at Bethel, for it is the king's chapel, and the king's court.
Hastings
1. On a rocky knoll beside the great road to the north, about 12 miles from Jerusalem, stands the modern Beil
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Then departed he thence unto a mountain that lieth on the east side of Bethel and pitched his tent - Bethel being on the west side, and Ai on the east - and he built there an altar unto the LORD, and called on the name of the LORD.
and came unto a place and tarried there all night, because the son was down. And took a stone of the place, and put it under his head, and laid him down in the same place to sleep.
and this stone which I have set up on end, shall be God's house. And of all that thou shalt give me, will I give the tenth unto thee."
And in like manner the house of Joseph went up to Bethel and the LORD with them,
and dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah, between Ramah and Bethel, in mount Ephraim. And the children of Israel came to her for judgment.
And the children of Israel arose and went up to Bethel, and asked of God, who should begin the battle against the children of Benjamin, and the LORD said, "Judah shall begin."
And as Samuel offered the burnt offering, the Philistines came to fight against Israel. But the LORD thundered a great thunder the same day upon the Philistines, and turmoiled them, that they were beaten before Israel.
Then thou shalt go forth from thence and shalt come to the oak of Tabor. And there shalt thou meet three men going to God to Bethel: one carrying three kids; and another carrying three loaves of bread; and the third carrying a bottle of wine.
And Jeroboam thought in his heart, "Now might the kingdom return to the house of David again.
And Jeroboam made a feast the fifteenth day of the eighth month, like unto the feast that was in Judah, and offered on the altar. And so did he in Bethel, to offer unto the calves that he had made. And he put in Bethel the priests of the hill altars, which he had made.
Elijah and Elisha were going from Gilgal, and Elijah said to Elisha, "Tarry here, I pray thee, for the LORD hath sent me to Bethel." But Elisha said, "As surely as the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee." And when they came to Bethel,
And Elisha said, "As sure as the LORD of Hosts liveth - in whose sight I stand - and it were not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look toward thee, nor yet see ye."
And then go and shut the door to thee and to thy sons, and pour out into all those vessels, and put the full always aside."
And the king of Syria said, "Go thy way, and I will send a letter unto the king of Israel." And he went and took with him ten talents of silver and six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of raiments.
Howbeit, every nation made their own gods and put them in the houses of the Hill altars which the Samaritans had made, every nation in their cities where they dwelt.
And Abijah followed after Jeroboam and won certain cities from him: Bethel with the towns belonging thereto, and Jeshanah with the towns that belonged thereto, and Ephron with her towns.
Though thou, Israel, are disposed to play the harlot, yet shouldest not thou have offended, O Judah. Thou shouldest not have run to Gilgal, nor gone up to Bethaven, nor have sworn, 'The LORD liveth.'
Blow with the shawmes at Gibeah, and with the trumpet in Ramah, cry out at Bethaven upon the yon-side of Benjamin.
Morish
Beth'-el
1. Name, signifying 'house of God,' given to the place where God first appeared to Jacob in a dream. It led him to say, "Surely the Lord is in this place . . . . this is none other but the house of God . . . . and he called the name of that place Beth-el." Ge 28:16-19. God thus gave to Jacob the apprehension that the house of God on earth
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When Jacob was awaked out of his sleep, he said, "Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware." And he was afraid, and said, "How fearful is this place? It is none other, but even the house of God and the gate of heaven!" read more. And Jacob stood up early in the morning and took the stone that he had laid under his head, and pitched it up on end, and poured oil on the top of it. And he called the name of the place Bethel, for indeed the name of the city was called Luz before time.
I am the God of Bethel where thou anointedest the stone and where thou vowdest a vow unto me. Now arise and get thee out of this country, and return unto the land where thou wast born.'"
And he said, "Thou shalt be called Jacob no more, but Israel. For thou hast wrestled with God and with men and hast prevailed." And Jacob asked him, saying, "Tell me thy name." And he said, "Wherefore dost thou ask after my name?" And he blessed him there.
And God said unto Jacob, "Arise and get thee up to Bethel, and dwell there. And make there an altar unto God that appeared unto thee, when thou fleddest from Esau thy brother." Then said Jacob unto his household, and to all that were with him, "Put away the strange gods that are among you and make yourselves clean, and change your garments, read more. and let us arise and go up to Bethel, that I may make an altar there, unto God which heard me in the day of my tribulation and was with me in the way which I went." And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which were under their hands, and all their earrings which were in their ears, and Jacob hid them under an oak at Shechem. And they departed. And the fear of God fell upon the cities that were round about them, that they durst not follow after the sons of Jacob. So came Jacob to Luz in the land of Canaan, otherwise called Bethel, with all the people that was with him. And he built there an altar, and called the place Elbethel: because that God appeared unto him there, when he fled from his brother. Then died Debora, Rebekah's nurse, and was buried beneath Bethel under an oak. And the name of it was called the oak of lamentation. And God appeared unto Jacob again after he came out of Mesopotamia, and blessed him, and said unto him, "Thy name is Jacob. Notwithstanding thou shalt be no more called Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name." And so was his name called Israel. And God said unto him, "I am God almighty: grow and multiply; for people and a multitude of people shall spring of thee, yea and kings shall come out of thy loins. And the land which I gave Abraham and Isaac, will I give unto thee, and unto thy seed after thee will I give it also." And God departed from him in the place where he talked with him. And Jacob set up a mark in the place where he talked with him; even a pillar of stone, and poured drink offering thereon and poured also oil thereon, and called the name of the place where God spake with him, Bethel. And they departed from Bethel, and when he was but a field breadth from Ephrata, Rachel began to travail. And in travailing she was in peril.
And the lot of the children of Joseph fell from Jordan by Jericho, unto the water of Jericho eastward, and the wilderness that goeth up from Jericho throughout mount Bethel:
And in like manner the house of Joseph went up to Bethel and the LORD with them,
Then they said, "Behold, there is a feast of the LORD yearly in Shiloh which is on the north side of Bethel, and on the east side of the way that goeth from Bethel to Shechem and south from Lebanon."
And he put the one in Bethel and the other in Dan. And that doing was a cause of sin. And the people went before the one as far as Dan. read more. And he made houses of hill altars, and made, of the lowest of the people, priests which were not of the sons of Levi. And Jeroboam made a feast the fifteenth day of the eighth month, like unto the feast that was in Judah, and offered on the altar. And so did he in Bethel, to offer unto the calves that he had made. And he put in Bethel the priests of the hill altars, which he had made. And he offered upon the altar which he had made in Bethel, the fifteenth day of the eighth month, which he had imagined of his own heart: and made a solemn feast unto the children of Israel, and went up to the altar to burn sacrifice.
And behold, there came a man of God out of Judah with the word of God, to Bethel, as Jeroboam stood by the altar to offer, and cried against the altar at the commandment of the LORD and said, "Altar, altar, thus sayeth the LORD: 'Behold, a child shall be born of the house of David, Josiah by name, which upon thee shall offer the priests of the hill altars that sacrifice upon thee, and shall burn men's bones upon thee.'" read more. And he gave them the same time a sign, saying, "This is the sign, of that the LORD hath promised: Behold, the altar shall rent and the ashes that are in it shall fall out." And when the king heard the saying of the man of God which he cried against the altar in Bethel, he stretched out his hand from the altar saying, "Hold him." And his hand, which he put forth toward him, dried up that he could not pull it in again to him; and the altar clave and the ashes ran out of the altar according to the token which the man of God had given at the commandment of the LORD. And the king answered and said unto the man of God, "Oh pray unto the LORD thy God and make intercession for me, that my hand may be restored me again." And the man of God besought the LORD, and his hand came to him again as well as before. Then said the king unto the man of God, "Come home with me and refresh thyself, and I will give thee a reward." But the man of God answered the king, "If thou wouldest give me half thine house, I would not go with thee - neither would I eat meat or drink water in this place. For so was it charged me, through the word of God and said to me, 'Eat no bread nor drink water nor turn again by the same way thou wentest." And so he went another way and returned not by the way he came to Bethel. And there dwelt an old prophet in Bethel, whose sons came and told him all the works that the man of God had done that day in Bethel, and the words which he spake unto the king they told their father also. And their father said unto them, "What way went he?" For his sons had seen what way the man of God went which came from Judah. Then said he to his sons, "Saddle mine ass." And they saddled him an ass. And he gat him up thereon and went after the man of God, and found him sitting under an Oak and said unto him, "Art thou the man of God that camest from Judah?" And he said, "Yea." Then he said to him, "Come home with me and eat bread." And the other said again, "I may not return with thee, to go with thee, neither may I eat bread or drink water with thee in this place. For it was said to me by the commandment of the LORD, 'Eat no bread nor drink water in this place, nor turn again by the way thou wentest.'" And the old prophet said unto him, "I am a prophet as well as thou, and an Angel spake unto me with the word of the LORD saying, 'Bring him again with thee to thine house, and let him eat bread and drink water.' Bvt he lied unto him. And so the other went again with him and ate bread in his house and drank water. And as they sat at the table, the word of the LORD came unto the prophet that brought him again. And he cried unto the man of God that came from Judah, saying, "Thus sayeth the LORD: 'Because thou hast disobeyed the mouth of the LORD, and hast not kept the commandment which the LORD thy God commanded thee, but camest back again and hast eaten bread and drunk water in the place in which he bade that thou shouldest eat no bread nor drink water: therefore thy carcass shall not come unto the sepulchre of thy fathers.'" And when he had eaten bread and drunk, he saddled an ass for the prophet which he had brought again. And as he journeyed, a lion met him by the way and slew him, and his carcass lay along in the way and the ass stood thereby, and the lion stood by the corpse also. And men that passed by, saw the carcass cast along in the way and the lion standing thereby, and went and told it in the town where the old prophet dwelt. And when the prophet that brought him back again from the way, heard thereof, he said, "It is the man of God which disobeyed the mouth of the LORD. And therefore the LORD hath delivered him unto the lion which hath rent him and slain him, according to the word of the LORD, which he said to him." And he said to his sons, "Saddle me an ass." So they did. And he went and found the body cast along in the way, and the ass and the lion standing thereby. And the lion had not eaten the carcass nor hurt the ass. And he took up the body of the man of God and put it upon the ass and brought it again, and came to the city of the old prophet to lament him, and to bury him. And he laid his body in his own grave and lamented over him, "Oh my brother." And when he had buried him, he spake to his sons, saying, "When I am dead, see that ye bury me in the sepulchre wherein the man of God is buried, and lay my bones by his. For the saying which he cried at the bidding of the LORD against the altar in Bethel, and against all the houses of hill altars which are in the cities of Samaria, shall come to pass."
the children of the Prophets that were at Bethel came out to Elisha and said to him, "Knowest thou not how that the LORD will take away thy master from thee this day?" And he said, "I know it too; hold your peace."
And the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest and the inferior priests and the keepers of the door, to bring out of the temple of the LORD, all the vessels that were made for Baal and for the grove and for all the host of heaven. And he burnt them without Jerusalem in the fields of Kidron and carried the ashes of them into Bethel.
Moreover the altar that was at Bethel, the hill altar made by Jeroboam the son of Nebat which made Israel sin - both the altar and also the hill - he brake down and burnt the hill and stamped it to powder, and burnt the grove.
Then the king said, "What meaneth yonder grave stone that I see?" And the men of the city told him, "It is the sepulchre of the man of God, which came from Judah and openly denounced the selfsame things that thou hast done to the altar of Bethel."
And thereto all the houses of the hill altars of the cities of Samaria which the kings of Israel had made, to anger withal, Josiah put out of the way and did to them in all points as he did in Bethel.
The children of Benjamin of Geba, dwelt at Michmash, and Aija, Bethel, and in their villages.
Even so shall it go with you, O Bethel, because of your malicious wickedness. Like as the morning goeth away, so shall the king of Israel pass.
He strove with the angel, and gat the victory: so that he prayed and desired him. He found him at Bethel, and there he talked with us.
'That when I begin to visit the wickedness of Israel, I will visit the altars at Bethel also: so that the horns of the alter shall be broken off, and fall to the ground.
'Ye came to Bethel for to work ungraciousness, and have increased your sins at Gilgal: ye brought your sacrifices in the morning, and your tithes unto the third day.
but seek not after Bethel. come not at Gilgal, and go not to Beersheba: for Gilgal shall be carried away captive, and Bethel shall come to naught.
but seek not after Bethel. come not at Gilgal, and go not to Beersheba: for Gilgal shall be carried away captive, and Bethel shall come to naught. Seek the LORD, that ye may live: lest the house of Joseph be burnt with fire and consumed, and lest there be none to quench Bethel.
Upon this sent Amaziah the priest to Bethel unto Jeroboam the king of Israel, saying, "Amos maketh the house of Israel to rebel against thee; the land cannot away with his words.
Smith
Beth'el
(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
the name of Bethel would appear to have existed at this spot even before the arrival of Abram in Canaan.
Bethel was the scene of Jacob's vision.
Jacob lived there.
The original name was Luz.
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.
Authorized Version, "house of God." Here was the ark of the covenant.
Later it is named as one of the holy cities to which Samuel went on circuit.
Here Jeroboab placed one of the two calves of gold. Toward the end of Jeroboam's life Bethel fell into the hands of Judah.
Elijah visited Bethel, and we hear of "sons of the prophets" as resident there.
But after the destruction of Baal worship by Jehu Bethel comes once more into view.
After the desolation of the northern kingdom by the king of Assyria, Bethel still remained an abode of priests.
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.
2. A town in the south part of Judah, named in
and 1Sam 30:27 In
the place appears under the name of CHESIL, BETHUL and BETHUEL. Hiel the Bethelite is recorded as the rebuilder of Jericho.
See Chesil
See Bethul
See Bethuel
3. In
and 1Sam 13:2 Mount Bethel, a hilly section near Beth-el, is referred to.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Then departed he thence unto a mountain that lieth on the east side of Bethel and pitched his tent - Bethel being on the west side, and Ai on the east - and he built there an altar unto the LORD, and called on the name of the LORD.
Then departed he thence unto a mountain that lieth on the east side of Bethel and pitched his tent - Bethel being on the west side, and Ai on the east - and he built there an altar unto the LORD, and called on the name of the LORD.
And he went on his journey from the south even unto Bethel, and unto the place where his tent was at the first time between Bethel and Ai, and unto the place of the altar which he made before. And there called Abram upon the name, of the LORD.
and came unto a place and tarried there all night, because the son was down. And took a stone of the place, and put it under his head, and laid him down in the same place to sleep. And he dreamed: and behold there stood a ladder upon the earth, and the top of it reached up to heaven. And see, the angels of God went up and down upon it. read more. Yea, and the LORD stood upon it and said, "I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father and the God of Isaac: The land which thou sleepest upon will I give thee and thy seed. And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth: And thou shalt spread abroad: west, east, north and south. And through thee and thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. And see, I am with thee, and will be thy keeper in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land: Neither will I leave thee; until I have made good all that I have promised thee." When Jacob was awaked out of his sleep, he said, "Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware." And he was afraid, and said, "How fearful is this place? It is none other, but even the house of God and the gate of heaven!" And Jacob stood up early in the morning and took the stone that he had laid under his head, and pitched it up on end, and poured oil on the top of it. And he called the name of the place Bethel, for indeed the name of the city was called Luz before time.
I am the God of Bethel where thou anointedest the stone and where thou vowdest a vow unto me. Now arise and get thee out of this country, and return unto the land where thou wast born.'"
And God said unto Jacob, "Arise and get thee up to Bethel, and dwell there. And make there an altar unto God that appeared unto thee, when thou fleddest from Esau thy brother." Then said Jacob unto his household, and to all that were with him, "Put away the strange gods that are among you and make yourselves clean, and change your garments, read more. and let us arise and go up to Bethel, that I may make an altar there, unto God which heard me in the day of my tribulation and was with me in the way which I went." And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which were under their hands, and all their earrings which were in their ears, and Jacob hid them under an oak at Shechem. And they departed. And the fear of God fell upon the cities that were round about them, that they durst not follow after the sons of Jacob. So came Jacob to Luz in the land of Canaan, otherwise called Bethel, with all the people that was with him. And he built there an altar, and called the place Elbethel: because that God appeared unto him there, when he fled from his brother. Then died Debora, Rebekah's nurse, and was buried beneath Bethel under an oak. And the name of it was called the oak of lamentation.
And the lot of the children of Joseph fell from Jordan by Jericho, unto the water of Jericho eastward, and the wilderness that goeth up from Jericho throughout mount Bethel:
And in like manner the house of Joseph went up to Bethel and the LORD with them, and the house of Joseph searched out Bethel which before time was called Luz.
And the children of Israel arose and went up to Bethel, and asked of God, who should begin the battle against the children of Benjamin, and the LORD said, "Judah shall begin."
Then the children of Israel and all the people went up and came unto Bethel, and wept and sat there before the LORD, and fasted the same day unto evening, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.
Then the children of Israel and all the people went up and came unto Bethel, and wept and sat there before the LORD, and fasted the same day unto evening, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD. And they asked the LORD - for there was the ark of the covenant of God, in those days; read more. and Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron waiting upon it at that time - and they said, "Shall we go out any more to battle against the children of Benjamin our brethren, or shall we cease?" And the LORD said, "Go. For tomorrow I will deliver them into your hands."
Then came the children of Benjamin against the people, till they were drawn a great way from the city. And they began to smite of the people dead - as twice before, by two highways of which one goeth up to Bethel and the other to Gibeah through the field - upon a thirty men of Israel.
And the people came to Bethel and abode there till evening, before God, and lifted up their voices and wept sore,
And on the morrow the people rose up betimes and made there an altar and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings.
and went about year by year, to Bethel, Gilgal and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places, and came again to Ramah:
he chose him three thousand men out of Israel. Two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and Mount Bethel, and a thousand with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin. And the rest of the people he sent, every man to his own house.
In his days Hiel of Bethel built Jericho. And it cost him Abiram his eldest son when he laid the foundation, and his youngest son when he set up the gates, agreeing unto the word of the LORD which he spake by Joshua the son of Nun.
Elijah and Elisha were going from Gilgal, and Elijah said to Elisha, "Tarry here, I pray thee, for the LORD hath sent me to Bethel." But Elisha said, "As surely as the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee." And when they came to Bethel, the children of the Prophets that were at Bethel came out to Elisha and said to him, "Knowest thou not how that the LORD will take away thy master from thee this day?" And he said, "I know it too; hold your peace."
But from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat which made Israel sin with the golden calves in Bethel and Dan, Jehu departed not.
Then the king of Assyria commanded, saying, "Carry thither one of the priests which ye brought thence, and let him go and dwell there, and teach them the fashion how to serve the God of the country." And then one of the priests which they had carried thence, went and dwelt in Bethel, and taught them how they should fear the LORD.
And Abijah followed after Jeroboam and won certain cities from him: Bethel with the towns belonging thereto, and Jeshanah with the towns that belonged thereto, and Ephron with her towns.
Watsons
BETHEL, a city which lay to the west of Ai, about eight miles to the north of Jerusalem, in the confines of the tribe of Ephraim and Benjamin. Here Jacob slept and had his vision. The name of this city had formerly been Luz, which signifies an almond, and was probably so called from the number of almond trees which grew in those parts. See JACOB.