1. ancient place and seat of worship in Ephraim on border of Benjamin, identification with Luz (former name) Gen 28:19; Gen 35:6; Josh 18:13; Judg 1:23 apparently distinguished from Luz Josh 16:2 (yet compare Di); name connected with vision of Jacob when journeying to Paddan-Aram ( J E ) Gen 28:19 ; Gen 35:7 (where אֵל ֵ˜בּיתְאֵל, but ᵐ5 ᵑ6 ᵑ9 Ol strike out אֵל; Di maintains); compare Hos 12:5 when journeying from P.-A. Hos 35:15 ( P ); name apparently given first to a stone (Gen 28:18; Gen 35:14) compare We^{Skizzen iii. 70}; הַר ֵ˜בּיתְאֵל 1Sam 13:2 later important place of worship 1Sam 10:3 עָלָה אֶלֿ הָאֱלֹהִים בֵּיתְאֵל; abode of prophet 1Kgs 13:11; 2Kgs 2:3 Jeroboam set up one of the golden calves at Bethel 1Kgs 12:29f. compare also 1Kgs 13:1 f; 2Kgs 10:29 ; 2Kgs 23:15 ; Jer 48:13 see further 2Kgs 17:28; 2Kgs 23:15 Th proposes on internal grounds, בֵּית אַל house of nothingness, or אָלָה ׳ בּ house of execration; אָלָה ׳ בּ also Ren^{Hist. iii. 185}; in prophets Amos 3:14; Amos 4:4; Amos 5:5 (twice in verse); Amos 5:6; Amos 7:10; Amos 7:13; Hos 10:15 note especially Amos 5:5 ביתאל יִהְיֶה לְאָ֑וֶן, & בֵּית אָוֶן (house of iniquity ) as substitute for ביתאל Hos 4:15; Hos 5:8; Hos 10:5 ( עֶגְלוֺת בית און); — modern Beitîn Rob^{BR i. 448 f.} Guérin^{Judée iii. 14-27} compare Bd^{Pal 215} Survey^{ii. 305.}

2. place in south country of Judah, not far from Beersheba & Ziklag 1Sam 30:27 compare We Dr; = ᵑ0 כסיל Josh 15:30 (text error; ᵐ5 Βαιθηλ); also בְּתוּל Josh 19:4, בְּתוּאֵל 1Chr 4:30.