BEEROTH, a city of the Gibeonites, afterwards yielded to the tribe of Benjamin. (Josh. ix. 17. 2 Sam. iv. 2.) Eusebius places it seven miles from Jerusalem, in the way to Nicopolis. Near it is a fountain of excellent water, whence probably it received its name, the wells.

Beeroth was also a station of the Israelites, (Deut. x. 6.) north of Ezion-gaber.

BEER-SHEBA, the well of the oath. See Part I. p. 34. BELA, or Zoar, a city near Sodom. See Part I. p. 31. BENE-BERAK, a city in the tribe of Dan. Josh. xix. 45. BENE-JAAKAN, a station of the Israelites in the wilderness, (Numb. xxxiii. 31.) probably the same as Beeroth. (Deut. x. 6.) Beeroth beni Jaakan, the wells of the sons of Jaakan. BENJAMIN, one of the tribes of Israel. See Part I. p. 64. BEON, a city in the tribe of Reuben, (Numb. xxxii. 3.) probably the same called Bean in 1 Macc. v. 4.

BEREA, a city in the south of Macedonia, westward from Thessalonica, where Paul preached with success, and whose inhabitants are commended for receiving the word with all readiness of mind, and diligently searching the Scriptures. Acts xvii. 10, 11.

A medal of Berea, remarkable for the inscription, KOIN. MAKE. B. NEO. BERAION, referring to the second Macedonia; and for the date EOC, thought to be 275 from the battle of Pharsalia, or the Julian era of Rome 706. This date falls in the sixth year of Alexander Severus; and the head of Alexander the Great on this medal, was probably in compliment to this emperor, who was born in a temple of Alexander, at Arcé, in Phenicia, or Cæsarea Libanus, and from that circumstance adopted Alexander as his tutelary deity.

This is the only Macedonian medal which has such a date, and the only one of this period inscribed with the name of the city where it was struck; these circumstances, and those mentioned above, appear to mark a distinction attached to this city, whose inhabitants are styled in Scripture noble Bereans.

others think it was the place where Jacob crossed that river. Eusebius says that many in his time were zealous to be baptized at this place, as it was supposed to be the spot where John baptized the Lord Jesus Christ.

BETHANATH, a city of Naphtali. Josh. xix. 38.

BETHANY, a village situated at the mount of Olives, about two miles east of Jerusalem. This was the abode of Martha and Mary, with their brother Lazarus, whom Jesus raised from the dead; (John xi. 18.) and here Mary anointed the feet of our Lord. Bethany is now a small village, where is yet shown to travellers an old ruin, said to be the house where Lazarus and his sisters dwelt; also near this is his sepulchre, which is held in great veneration by the Turks, and used by them as a place for prayer. Not far from this they show the house of Mary Magdalene, and the fountain of the apostles, so called because they were accustomed to refresh there; this fountain is near the road side, and very inviting to the thirsty traveller.

BETH-ARABAH, a city in the border of Judah, (Josh. xv. 6.) belonging to the tribe of Benjamin, (xviii. 22.)

BETHARAM, or Betharan, (Numb. xxxii. 36. Josh. xiii. 27.) a fenced city east of Jordan, in the tribe of Gad.

BETHAVEN, the same as Bethel. This is the place where Jeroboam set up his golden calves, whence it is called by the prophet Hosea, (iv. 15.) in derision, Beth-aven, the house of vanity, instead of Bethel, the house of God.

BETH-BARA, (Judges vii. 24.) supposed to be the same as Bethabara.

BETH-BASI, a city in the tribe of Judah, fortified by Simon and Jonathan Maccabeus, (1 Macc. ix. 62.) and where Bacchides besieged them without success.

BETH-BIREI, a city of Simeon. 1 Chron. iv. 31.

BETH-CAR, a city of Dan, to which the Israelites pursued the Philistines, and near which Samuel set up a stone which he called Ebenezer.

BETH-DAGON, the house or temple of Dagon, a city of Canaan in the tribe of Judah; probably so called because here was a temple of the idol of Dagon, before the country was conquered by the Israelites. (Josh. xv. 41.) There was also a city of this name belonging to the tribe of Asher. Josh. xix. 27.

BETHEL, a city near the boundary between the tribes of

Benjamin and Ephraim, situated about eight miles north of Jerusalem. See Part I. p. 28.

BETH-EMEK, a city near the southern boundary of the tribe of Asher. Josh. xix. 27.

BETHER; mountains of this name are mentioned in the Song of Solomon, (ii. 17. and viii. 14.) In the latter place, it is translated "mountains of spices." It is uncertain what mountains are meant by this name; some take it to mean Bethoron, called Bether by Eusebius. This place is frequently mentioned in old Hebrew writings, and is memorable for a terrible slaughter of the Jews in the time of the emperor Adrian, during the rebellion of Bardochebas, when it is said that the number of dead bodies was so great, that the blood ran from them four miles to the sea.

BETHESDA, the house of mercy, or the house of effusion. a pool near the sheep-market at Jerusalem, having five porches, piazzas, or covered walks around it. (John v. 2.) Here an impotent man, who had been so for thirty-eight years, was cured by our Lord. The healing virtues of this pool are said by Tertullian to have ceased after the Jews rejected Christ. According to Mr. Maundrel, a late traveller who visited this place, the pool is now dry; but the basin or pit which contained the water remains, and is 120 yards long, forty broad, and eight deep. At one end are some ancient arches, which the people say were the porches where the multitude of lame, halt, and blind, were accustomed to sit while they waited for the moving of the waters.

BETH-GAMUL, a city of the Moabites in the tribe of Reuben. Jer. xlviii. 23.

BETH-HACCEREM, a city between Jerusalem and Tekoah, noted for its vineyards. Jer. vi. 1. Neh. iii. 14.

BETH-HOGLAH, a place in the tribe of Judah, (Josh. xv. 6.) which, according to Eusebius, was eight miles from Gaza. St. Jerom mentions a place of this name, eight miles from Jordan, in the tribe of Benjamin. Josh. xviii. 21.

BETH-HORON, places in the tribe of Ephraim. See Part I.

p. 56.

BETH-JESIMOTH, a city in the plains of Moab, east of Jordan, where the Israelites encamped. See Part I. p. 49.

BETH-LEBAOTH, a city belonging to the tribe of Simeon, (Josh. xix. 6.) called Lebaoth, among the cities first given to Judah, (chap. xv. 32.)

BETHLEHEM, a city situated six miles south of Jerusalem,

otherwise called Ephrath or Ephratah, sometimes BethlehemEphratah, and sometimes Bethlehem-Judah, to distinguish it from another place called Bethlehem, in the tribe of Zebulon.

This city was not considerable for its extent or riches; but was remarkable for being the birth-place of our blessed Saviour, as well as that of king David, from whom the Saviour descended, according to the flesh. Ibn Haukal, a Mahometan writer, speaking of Bethlehem, says, " Here Jesus, on whom be peace! was born of his mother.'

View of Bethlehem.

Bethlehem is situated upon the declivity of a hill, and is generally visited by pilgrims. It has been constantly honoured by Christians of all nations, on account of its being the place where Jesus Christ was born; and here, at the present day, is shown the manger in which it is said he was laid; also, a grotto in a rock, where, according to tradition, the Blessed Virgin hid herself and the divine babe from the malice of Herod, before their departure into Egypt. They also show, about half a mile eastward, the field where it is said the shepherds were watching their flocks, when they received the glad tidings of the birth of Christ.

About the distance of an hour and a quarter's journey southward from Bethlehem, are still shown the famous fountains, pools, and gardens, which are said to have been the delight of king Solomon, and to which he is supposed to allude in Eccles. ii. 5, 6.