A town beyond the Jordan, and near the Jabbok; defended by a strong tower, which Gideon broke down because the men of Penuel refused to aid him against the Midianites, Jg 8:8-17. It was restored by Jeroboam I, 1Ki 12:25. It received its name, the face of God, from Jacob's they're wrestling with the Angel Jehovah face to face, Ge 32:30.
So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel; For I saw God face to face; and my soul was delivered,
So he went up from thence, to Penuel, and spake unto them in like manner, - and the men of Penuel answered him, as had answered the men of Succoth. So he spake to the men of Penuel also, saying, - When I return with success, I will break down this tower. read more. Now, Zebah and Zalmunna, were in Karkor, and their hosts with them, about fifteen thousand, all that were left out of all the host of the sons of the east, - and, the fallen, were a hundred and twenty thousand men, who had drawn the sword. So Gideon went up by the way of the tent-dwellers, on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and smote the host, when, the host, had become secure. And when Zebah and Zalmunna fled, then he pursued them, and captured the two kings of Midian - Zebah and Zalmunna, and, all the host, put he in terror. And Gideon son of Joash returned from the battle, - from the ascent of Heres; and caught a young man, of the men of Succoth, and enquired of him, - so he wrote down for him the princes of Succoth, and the elders thereof, seventy-seven men. Then came he in unto the men of Succoth, and said, Lo! Zebah and Zalmunna, - concerning whom ye did taunt me, saying - Are the palms of the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna already in thy power, that we should give to thy weary men bread? So he took the elders of the city, and the thorns of the wilderness and the nettles, and taught therewith the men of Succoth: the tower of Penuel also, brake he down, - and slew the men of the city.
Then Jeroboam built Shechem, in the hill country of Ephraim, and dwelt therein, - and went forth from thence, and built Penuel.