993. Betonim
Lexical Summary
Betonim: Betonim

Original Word: בְּטֹנִים
Part of Speech: Proper Name Location
Transliteration: Btoniym
Pronunciation: beh-toh-NEEM
Phonetic Spelling: (bet-o-neem')
KJV: Betonim
NASB: Betonim
Word Origin: [probably plural from H992 (בּוֹטֶן - pistachio nuts)]

1. hollows

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Betonim

Probably plural from boten; hollows: Betonim, a place in Palestine -- Betonim.

see HEBREW boten

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from the same as botnim
Definition
a city of Gad
NASB Translation
Betonim (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
בְּטֹנִים proper name, of a location city of Gad, east of Jordan Joshua 13:26, modern Ba‰ne, west of Es-Sal‰ (see d. VeldeMemoir 298) = Βοτνία compare LagOnom. 294, 2nd ed. 247.

Topical Lexicon
Etymology and Meaning

Although the precise nuance of בְּטֹנִים (Betonim) is debated, its form suggests rocky hollows or rugged places, an idea consistent with the broken terrain east of the Jordan River. The name therefore evokes both the physical setting and the sense of a secure enclave carved out for Israel by the Lord.

Geographical Setting

Betonim lay in the central highlands of Gilead, between Heshbon and Mahanaim, not far from Ramath Mizpeh. The locale sits on the eastern side of the Jordan, within the allotment granted to the tribe of Gad after Israel’s conquest of the land (Joshua 13:26). The broader region is bounded by fertile plateaus, steep wadis, and strategic routes linking northern and southern Transjordan.

Biblical Context and Narrative Significance

Joshua 13 presents the division of Canaan among the remaining tribes. Verse 26 lists Betonim as a landmark on Gad’s western frontier:

“from Heshbon to Ramath-mizpeh and Betonim, and from Mahanaim to the border of Debir” (Joshua 13:26).

By including Betonim in the territorial description, Scripture highlights:
• Covenant Fulfillment: The Lord’s promise to Abraham (Genesis 15:18-21) is now tangibly realized as specific towns are named and assigned.
• Tribal Identity: Gad’s inheritance incorporates a mix of fortified cities and pastoral land, suiting the tribe’s herd-owning culture (Numbers 32:1-5). Betonim served as one of those pivotal settlements anchoring Gad in its God-given patrimony.
• Strategic Defense: Positioned near key east-west crossings, Betonim and its neighboring towns formed a protective arc guarding the interior of Gilead from foreign incursions, a task important during the turbulent period of the Judges (Judges 10:7-9).

Historical and Archaeological Considerations

The exact site has not been conclusively identified, though scholars have proposed modern Khirbet el-Batlâniyyeh or surrounding tells overlooking the Jabbok River. Sparse pottery from Iron Age I-II scattered across these hills confirms Israelite occupation in the time of the Judges and early monarchy. Even without a definitive excavation, the wider region testifies to settled agrarian life, seasonal shepherding, and caravan trade—activities that would have sustained a town like Betonim.

Theological and Devotional Insights

1. Faithfulness in Detail: The inclusion of little-known places underlines the precision of divine promise. Orts that appear only once in Scripture still matter, showing that no aspect of God’s plan is incidental.
2. Ordinary Yet Significant: Betonim’s relative obscurity reminds believers that prominence in human records is not the measure of worth. Every community and individual allotted a place in God’s redemptive account carries eternal value (1 Corinthians 12:22-24).
3. Inheritance and Stewardship: Gad’s occupation of Betonim illustrates both gift and responsibility—receiving land and defending it. Likewise, believers are called to guard what has been entrusted to them in the gospel (2 Timothy 1:14).

Ministry Applications Today

• Local Church Encouragement: Congregations serving in seemingly remote or small settings can view themselves as “modern Betonims,” strategically planted by God for regional blessing.
• Teaching Aids: Mapping Betonim within Gad’s inheritance offers Bible teachers a concrete way to explain covenant geography, reinforcing lessons on promise, obedience, and settlement.
• Prayer Focus: Just as Betonim lay on the borderlands, pray for ministries working on cultural, linguistic, or spiritual frontiers, that they may fortify the faith of those under their care (Philippians 1:9-11).

Forms and Transliterations
וּבְטֹנִ֑ים ובטנים ū·ḇə·ṭō·nîm ūḇəṭōnîm uvetoNim
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Joshua 13:26
HEB: רָמַ֥ת הַמִּצְפֶּ֖ה וּבְטֹנִ֑ים וּמִֽמַּחֲנַ֖יִם עַד־
NAS: as Ramath-mizpeh and Betonim, and from Mahanaim
KJV: unto Ramathmizpeh, and Betonim; and from Mahanaim
INT: far Ramath-mizpeh and Betonim Mahanaim far

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 993
1 Occurrence


ū·ḇə·ṭō·nîm — 1 Occ.

992
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