Lexical Summary Beth Haemeq: Beth Haemeq Original Word: בֵּית הָעֵמֶק Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Beth- emek From bayith and emeq with the article interposed; house of the valley; Beth-ha-Emek, a place in Palestine -- Beth- emek. see HEBREW bayith see HEBREW emeq NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom bayith and emeq Definition "valley house," a place on the border of Asher NASB Translation Beth-emek (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs בֵּית הָעֵ֫מֶק proper name, of a location on border of Asher (valley-house) Joshua 19:27. Surveyi. 145 compare `Amka, 7 miles northeast of Akko (but see RobBR iii. 103, 108). Topical Lexicon Biblical context “Then the border turned eastward to Beth-dagon, passed on to Zebulun and to the Valley of Iphtahel northward to Beth Emek and Neiel, and came out near Cabul on the left” (Joshua 19:27). The lone appearance of Beth Haemek occurs within the description of territorial allotments following Israel’s conquest under Joshua. The mention sits in a list of boundary markers, confirming the community’s existence and strategic importance during the settlement era. Tribal allocation and border function Although Beth Haemek is traditionally assigned to Naphtali, the verse stands in the section that delineates Asher’s inheritance (Joshua 19:24-31). The simplest resolution is that the site lay on or very near the frontier between Asher, Zebulun and Naphtali, serving as a recognizable landmark for all three tribes. In ancient Israel fixed points such as valleys, springs and towns helped preserve tribal distinctives while fostering mutual accountability; Beth Haemek performed just such a role. Geographical setting “House of the valley” aptly describes a settlement tucked in the fertile lowlands of western Lower Galilee. Modern scholarship places the biblical site just east of today’s kibbutz Bet HaEmek, roughly 13 kilometres southeast of Acre and 5 kilometres north of Cabul—another biblical town named in the same verse. The region is characterized by gentle hills that open into cultivated basins, ideal for grain, olives and vines. Ancient roads from the coast to the inland Jezreel Valley skirted these basins, making the location militarily and commercially valuable. Historical background 1. Conquest era Beth Haemek’s first and only Scriptural citation falls in the allotment lists, implying that the settlement was already established when Israel arrived. As such, it testifies to Israel’s policy of integrating existing Canaanite infrastructure into the covenant community while purging idolatry (Deuteronomy 6:10-15). Though not named again, the town’s position on tribal borders suggests continuing relevance through the united and divided monarchies. Prophets frequently used geographical references from these frontier regions (for example, Hosea 5:8 mentions Gibeah and Ramah to illustrate border alarms), hinting that the audience was familiar with such towns. No Second Temple text records Beth Haemek, yet rabbinic tradition preserved the area’s agricultural fame. In 1949 Jewish pioneers founded Kibbutz Bet HaEmek on or near the ancient mound, reviving cultivation where the ancestors of Asher and Naphtali once farmed. Theological and spiritual significance • Covenant inheritance. Beth Haemek embodies the fulfillment of divine promise—each tribe received “cities and their villages” (Joshua 21:12), demonstrating God’s faithfulness in concrete geography. Lessons for ministry 1. Stewardship. The precise recording of Beth Haemek urges churches to document and steward resources with equal rigor. Archaeological and modern associations Tel Amka (Khirbet Amqa) is widely accepted as the ancient mound. Surface pottery from the Late Bronze and Iron Ages corroborates the biblical timeframe. The kibbutz preserves the name and continues agricultural activity much as its ancient counterpart did. Excavations remain limited, leaving rich potential for future discoveries that could illuminate daily life in a border village of Israel’s formative centuries. Cross-references Joshua 19:24-31 – broader list of Asher’s inheritance Deuteronomy 19:14; Proverbs 22:28 – laws on boundary stones 1 Samuel 17:2; 2 Chronicles 20:26 – theological use of valleys Acts 17:26 – God-ordained boundaries in the New Covenant era Forms and Transliterations הָעֵ֖מֶק העמק hā‘êmeq hā·‘ê·meq haEmekLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Joshua 19:27 HEB: צָפ֛וֹנָה בֵּ֥ית הָעֵ֖מֶק וּנְעִיאֵ֑ל וְיָצָ֥א NAS: northward to Beth-emek and Neiel; KJV: toward the north side of Bethemek, and Neiel, INT: of Iphtahel northward to Beth-emek and Neiel proceeded 1 Occurrence |
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