Lexical Summary Beth Patstsets: House of Hewing Original Word: בֵּית פַּצֵץ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Beth-pazzez From bayith and a derivative from puwts; house of dispersion; Beth-Patstsets, a place in Palestine -- Beth-pazzez. see HEBREW bayith see HEBREW puwts NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom bayith and a derivation of puts Definition "place of dispersion," a place in Issachar NASB Translation Beth-pazzez (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs בֵּית מַּצֵּץ proper name, of a location in Issachar (place of dispersion) Joshua 19:21; site unknown. Topical Lexicon Geographic SettingBeth Pazzez was a town allotted to the tribe of Issachar when Joshua divided the land west of the Jordan. It is listed among the interior settlements between the fertile Valley of Jezreel on the north and the hill country that slopes toward the Jordan Rift to the south-east. Though its exact modern site remains uncertain, the clustering of names in Joshua 19 indicates that Beth Pazzez lay not far from Daberath and En Gannim, on or near a natural pass leading from the plain to the uplands. Such a location would have given the village strategic value for travel, trade, and agriculture in one of Israel’s most productive regions. Biblical Occurrence The single biblical reference appears in Joshua 19:21, within the catalog of Issachar’s inheritance: “…Remeth, En Gannim, En Haddah, and Beth Pazzez.” (Berean Standard Bible) While the verse supplies no narrative detail, its placement in the conquest record confirms God’s faithfulness to His covenant promise to grant the tribes distinct territories (Genesis 12:7; Numbers 34:2). Beth Pazzez thus shares in the wider testimony of Joshua that “not one word out of all the good words that the LORD had spoken… failed” (Joshua 21:45). Historical Background 1. Tribal Life in Issachar Issachar’s lot included rich fields ideal for grain and vineyards. Judges 5:15–16 portrays the tribe as agriculturally minded but sometimes slow to mobilize. A settlement like Beth Pazzez would have supported this agrarian identity, housing farmers, shepherds, and craftsmen who supplied larger towns such as En Gannim. 2. Military Significance Control of the corridor south of the Jezreel Valley was essential for defending against incursions from the east. The presence of Beth Pazzez in that zone suggests it may have served as an outpost or staging point during the eras of the Judges and the united monarchy. 3. Post-Exilic Silence Unlike neighboring Daberath, Beth Pazzez is not named among the post-exilic resettlements (Ezra 2; Nehemiah 11). This silence could indicate either depopulation or the adoption of a new name. Nevertheless, the underlying parcel continued as part of Issachar’s patrimony and, by extension, Israel’s testimony to God’s enduring gift of land. Theological Themes 1. Covenant Fulfillment Each town recorded in Joshua, however obscure, stands as evidence that the Lord “drove out nations before them and allotted their inheritance by line” (Psalm 78:55). Beth Pazzez reminds readers that God’s faithfulness extends to the smallest hamlet. 2. Collective Identity The possession of scattered villages knit the tribe of Issachar into a cohesive community under the covenant. Beth Pazzez, though modest, contributed to the tribe’s ability to present “two hundred chiefs, with all their relatives at their command” in David’s day (1 Chronicles 12:32). 3. Stewardship of Land Scripture ties fruitfulness to obedience (Deuteronomy 28:1–6). The farming settlements of Issachar, including Beth Pazzez, illustrate how everyday labor could honor the Lord when carried out within His ordained boundaries. Ministry Applications • Faith in the Details Modern believers can draw confidence from God’s concern for places like Beth Pazzez, trusting Him with the overlooked corners of their own lives and ministries. • Community Roots The town’s inclusion in Israel’s inheritance encourages local congregations to value their own geographic context, seeing neighborhoods and rural outposts alike as part of God’s mission field. • Covenant Memory Teaching Joshua’s settlement lists, including Beth Pazzez, guards the church against historical amnesia and underlines the continuity of God’s redemptive plan from Abraham to Christ and the gospel’s advance today. Summary Though mentioned only once, Beth Pazzez embodies the precision of God’s promises, the interconnected life of tribal Israel, and the enduring lesson that no corner of the covenant land—or of a believer’s walk—is insignificant to the Lord who allocates and sustains every portion. Forms and Transliterations פַּצֵּֽץ׃ פצץ׃ paṣ·ṣêṣ paṣṣêṣ patzTzetzLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Joshua 19:21 HEB: חַדָּ֖ה וּבֵ֥ית פַּצֵּֽץ׃ NAS: and En-haddah and Beth-pazzez. KJV: and Enhaddah, and Bethpazzez; INT: and En-gannim and En-haddah and Beth-pazzez 1 Occurrence |
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