Topical Bible: School: Beth-El

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Introduction:
Beth-El, meaning "House of God" in Hebrew, is a significant location in biblical history, often associated with divine encounters and spiritual instruction. It is a place where God revealed Himself to the patriarchs and where significant events in Israel's religious history unfolded. The concept of a "school" at Beth-El is not explicitly mentioned in the Bible, but the location served as a center for spiritual learning and prophetic activity.

Biblical Significance:
Beth-El first appears in the biblical narrative in Genesis 12:8, where Abram (later Abraham) built an altar to the Lord. Its most notable mention is in Genesis 28:10-19, where Jacob, fleeing from his brother Esau, dreams of a ladder reaching to heaven with angels ascending and descending on it. Upon awakening, Jacob declares, "Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was unaware of it" (Genesis 28:16). He names the place Beth-El, marking it as a sacred site.

Beth-El becomes a recurring location in the life of Jacob. In Genesis 35:1-15, God instructs Jacob to return to Beth-El to fulfill his vow. There, Jacob builds an altar and God reaffirms His covenant with him, changing his name to Israel.

Prophetic Activity:
Beth-El later emerges as a center of prophetic activity, particularly during the divided monarchy. In 1 Kings 12:28-33, King Jeroboam of Israel establishes a rival worship center at Beth-El, setting up a golden calf and appointing non-Levitical priests. This act of idolatry becomes a point of contention for the prophets.

The prophet Amos, in particular, speaks against the idolatrous practices at Beth-El. In Amos 7:13, Amaziah, the priest of Beth-El, confronts Amos, saying, "But never again prophesy at Beth-El, for it is the king’s sanctuary and a royal temple" . Despite opposition, Amos delivers God's message of judgment against the false worship at Beth-El.

Spiritual Instruction:
While the Bible does not describe a formal "school" at Beth-El, the location served as a place of spiritual instruction and revelation. The encounters of the patriarchs with God at Beth-El provided foundational lessons in faith, obedience, and covenant relationship. The prophetic activity at Beth-El further underscores its role as a center for divine communication and correction.

Conclusion:
Beth-El's legacy as a "House of God" is marked by its association with divine encounters, covenantal promises, and prophetic messages. It stands as a testament to the enduring presence of God among His people and the importance of faithfulness to His commands.

Nave's Topical Index

2 Kings 2:3
And the sons of the prophets that were at Bethel came forth to Elisha, and said to him, Know you that the LORD will take away your master from your head to day? And he said, Yes, I know it; hold you your peace.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

The Church Staff
... The Bethel Mission School was established in 1841, in Main Street, near the Catherine
Ferry, then to rooms above the market on James Street, then to 42 and 44 ...
/.../griswold/sixty years with plymouth church/the church staff.htm

Political Religion
... the altar which he had made in Beth-el the fifteenth ... prophesy there; but prophesy
no more at Bethel: for it ... instances, is there not a whole school who estimate ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/political religion.htm

The Struggle in America, 1762-1857.
... members; at York 117 adherents, but only 38 members; and at Bethel 87 adherents ... At
Bethlehem they opened a Girls' School; and so popular did that school become ...
/.../hutton/history of the moravian church/chapter vi the struggle in.htm

The Sins of Society
... and there be none to quench it in Beth-el.7. Ye ... These correspond respectively to
'Jehovah,' and 'Bethel, Gilgal, and ... might do worse than go to school to Amos. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/the sins of society.htm

The Call of Elisha
... the prophet on his round of service from school to school, his faith and resolution
were once more tested. At Gilgal, and again at Bethel and Jericho, he was ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 17 the call of.htm

Letter of Origen to Gregory.
... on Origen, [4447] pronounced by Gregory at C??sarea about 239, when the school had
reassembled ... ideas, and have as it were made golden calves in Bethel, which is ...
/.../unknown/the passion of the scillitan martyrs/letter of origen to gregory.htm

Preparation for Advent
... that they were worshipping idols"golden calves at Dan, and Bethel, and Samaria ... the
righteousness of God, say these preachers of Amaziah's school, only means ...
/.../kingsley/all saints day and other sermons/sermon ii preparation for advent.htm

Assumptions Concerning the Book of Isaiah.
... The professor already quoted, a fair representative of the critical school, in his
recent ... David, Josiah by name; and upon thee (the altar at Bethel) shall he ...
/.../vi assumptions concerning the book.htm

All the Day Long
... The Lord hath sent me to Bethel." When he had exhorted the Bethel students he ... Go
on good woman, and send the children to school, and cook the dinner and go ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/sermons on proverbs/all the day long.htm

The Heavenly Pathway and the Earthly Heart
... And he called the name of that place Beth-el: but the ... had seen in the solitary night
on the uplands of Bethel? ... that he had but begun to learn in God's school. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the heavenly pathway and the.htm