Lexical Summary Beyth 'Aven: Beth Aven Original Word: בֵּית אָוֶן Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Beth-aven From bayith and 'aven; house of vanity; Beth- Aven, a place in Palestine -- Beth-aven. see HEBREW bayith see HEBREW 'aven Brown-Driver-Briggs בֵּית אָ֫וֶן proper name, of a location (house of iniquity or idolatry? hardly likely unless as alteration of original בֵּית אוֺן, house of wealth or strength) eastward from Bethel Joshua 7:2; Joshua 18:12; 1 Samuel 14:23; 1 Samuel 13:5 ׳בֵּיתאֿ (on Hosea 4:15; Hosea 5:8; Hosea 10:5 see ֵבּיתְאֵל below); site unknown. Topical Lexicon Geographic Setting Beth-aven lies in the central hill country north of Jerusalem, on the eastern approaches to Bethel and Ai. Its ridge overlooks the strategic Michmash pass, the main east–west corridor that links the Jordan Valley with the heartland of Ephraim and Benjamin. Because of its elevation and proximity to major routes, Beth-aven repeatedly appears at turning points in Israel’s military and spiritual history. Role in the Conquest under Joshua Joshua first mentions the site when planning the assault on Ai: “Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth-aven, to the east of Bethel” (Joshua 7:2; cf. Joshua 18:12). The verse shows Beth-aven functioning as a landmark that demarcates the northern border of Benjamin. The proximity of Beth-aven to both Bethel and Ai illuminates why the spies could survey enemy positions quickly. That same geography later allowed the tribes of Israel to consolidate their territory around the sanctuary at Shiloh without exposing their flanks. Military Context in the Early Monarchy During Saul’s reign the Philistines exploited this corridor. “Now the Philistines assembled to fight against Israel… and they camped at Michmash, east of Beth-aven” (1 Samuel 13:5). From this staging ground the invaders controlled the passes, cutting the tribal heartland in two. Jonathan’s daring raid (1 Samuel 14) reversed the tide, and “the battle spread beyond Beth-aven” (1 Samuel 14:23). Thus Beth-aven stands as a witness to both Israel’s vulnerability when faithless and its deliverance when trusting the LORD. Prophetic Denunciation through Hosea Centuries later Hosea employed the name as a prophetic taunt for apostate Bethel: By substituting Beth-aven for Bethel, Hosea exposed the nation’s idolatry. The site that once anchored Jacob’s encounter with God had become, in practice, a center of empty worship. The change of name underscores that outward religion, severed from covenant loyalty, degenerates into worthlessness. Intertextual Themes 1. Geography as Theology: The same ridge that enabled Joshua’s victories becomes, for Hosea, an indictment of spiritual defeat. Ministry Applications • Strategic obedience matters. Israel’s success at Ai required purging hidden sin; victory near Beth-aven under Saul followed renewed dependence on divine help. Likewise, hidden compromise today can neutralize strategic ministry. Summary Beth-aven appears only seven times, yet it spans conquest, kingdom, and prophecy. The site’s history illustrates how geography intertwines with spiritual standing: when Israel trusted the LORD, Beth-aven marked victory; when Israel trusted idols, the same name became a byword for emptiness. Forms and Transliterations אָ֔וֶן אָ֙וֶן֙ אָֽוֶן׃ און און׃ ’ā·wen ’āwen avenLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Joshua 7:2 HEB: עִם־ בֵּ֥ית אָ֙וֶן֙ מִקֶּ֣דֶם לְבֵֽית־ NAS: is near Beth-aven, east KJV: which [is] beside Bethaven, on the east side INT: which is near Beth-aven east of Bethel Joshua 18:12 1 Samuel 13:5 1 Samuel 14:23 Hosea 4:15 Hosea 5:8 Hosea 10:5 7 Occurrences |
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