Places in the Bible Today:

Bethel 1

Data

Translated NamesBeth-el, Beth-elite, Bethel, Bethelite
Typesettlement
Geo Data KML (for Google Earth)
GeoJSON (for GIS applications)

3 Possible Identifications

  1. Beitin (modern): 75% confidence
    1. ruins at BeitinBeitin

  2. Al Bira (modern): less than 10% confidence
    1. cityscape of Al BiraAl Bira

  3. Burj Beitin (modern): less than 10% confidence
    1. panorama of ruins at Burj BeitinBurj Beitin

Verses (69)

Gen-Deut (12)
Gen 12:8, 13:3, 28:19, 31:13, 35:1, 35:3, 35:6, 35:7, 35:8, 35:9, 35:15, 35:16
Josh-Ruth (20)
Josh 7:2, 8:9, 8:12, 8:17, 12:9, 12:16, 16:1, 16:2, 18:13, 18:22
Judg 1:22, 1:23, 4:5, 20:18, 20:23, 20:26, 20:27, 20:31, 21:2, 21:19
1Sam-Esth (29)
1Sam 7:16, 10:3, 13:2
1Kgs 12:29, 12:30, 12:32, 12:33, 13:1, 13:4, 13:10, 13:11, 13:25, 13:32, 16:34
2Kgs 2:2, 2:3, 2:23, 10:29, 17:28, 23:4, 23:15, 23:16, 23:17, 23:19
1Chr 7:28
2Chr 13:19
Ezra 2:28
Neh 7:32, 11:31
Job-Mal (8)
Hos 10:15, 12:4
Amos 3:14, 4:4, 5:5, 5:6, 7:10, 7:13

Linked Data Identifiers

SourceIdentifier
Biblemapper.com263
Logos FactbookBethel (North of Jerusalem)
OpenBible.info (2007)Bethel 1, Bethel 2
OpenBible.infoa64f355 (Bethel 1)
TIPNRBethel@Gen.12.8, Bethel@Jos.12.16
UBS Names Databaseot ID_516
WikidataQ3876767

Sources

  1. Aharoni, Land of the Bible (1979): page 432
  2. Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary (1992)
  3. Archaeological Encyclopedia of the Holy Land (1990)
  4. Baker Illustrated Bible Dictionary (2013)
  5. Baldwin, Genesis 12-50 (1986): 12:4, 7
  6. Baly, Atlas of the Biblical World (1971): Bethel
  7. Carta Bible Atlas, 5th Edition (2011)
  8. Dorsey, Roads and Highways of Ancient Israel (1991): Map 7: page 134
  9. Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)
  10. ESV Bible Atlas (2010)
  11. Expositor’s Bible Commentary (1984): 1Sam 30:26-31; Ezra 2:28; Neh 11:31
  12. Gordon, I and II Samuel (1986): 1Sam 7:16
  13. Grollenberg, Atlas of the Bible (1957): Bethel
  14. Hammond Atlas of the Bible Lands (2007): Bethel
  15. HarperCollins Bible Dictionary (2011)
  16. HarperCollins Concise Atlas of the Bible (1991)
  17. Hess, Joshua (1996): table 4
  18. Howard, Joshua (1998): 6:27 Excursus: Jericho and Ai note 40
  19. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1979)
  20. IVP Atlas of Bible History (2006): Bethel
  21. IVP Old Testament Bible Background Commentary (2000): Josh 8:9; Josh 8:9; Judg 1:22-23
  22. Lexham Bible Dictionary (2016)
  23. Matthews, Genesis (1996, 2005): 12:8-9
  24. McKinny, Historical Geography of the Administrative Division of Judah (2014): page 70
  25. Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary (2014): Bethel
  26. New Bible Dictionary (1996)
  27. New Interpreter’s Bible Dictionary (2009)
  28. New Unger’s Bible Dictionary (1988)
  29. Oxford Bible Atlas, Fourth Edition (2007)
  30. Reader’s Digest Atlas of the Bible (1981): Bethel
  31. Schlegel, Satellite Bible Atlas (2016): Bethel
  32. Tyndale Bible Dictionary (2001)
  33. Tübingen Bible Atlas (2001): Bet El
  34. Waltke and Fredricks, Genesis (2001): 12:8
  35. Wenham, Genesis (1987, 1994): 12:8
  36. Westminster Historical Atlas to the Bible (1956): Bethel
  37. Woudstra, Joshua (1981): 16:2; 7:2-5
  38. Wycliffe Bible Encyclopedia (1975)
  39. Zondervan Atlas of the Bible (2010)
  40. Zondervan Encyclopedia of the Bible (2010)
  41. Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary (2009): Gen 12:8; Gen 12:8 note 294
  42. Zondervan Pictorial Bible Atlas (1972): page 85

Confidence Trends over Time

This chart indicates how confidence in the identifications is changing over time. Each dot (connected by a dotted line) reflects the confidence of an identification over the preceding ten years (e.g., the 2009 dot reflects scholarship from 2000 to 2009), and the corresponding solid line reflects a best-fit line for the identification. Confidences that cluster near or below 0% indicate low confidence. Because of the small dataset, it's best to use this chart for general trends; if one identification is trending much higher than the others (in this case, Beitin), then you can probably have higher confidence in the identification. This chart only reflects the sources I consulted (listed above), not an exhaustive review of the literature.

Places with Similar Names

Thumbnail Image Credits

Deror_avi, יעקב, Bukvoed

About

This page attempts to identify all the possible locations where this biblical place could be. The confidence levels add up to less than 100%, indicating that the modern location is uncertain. It's best to think about the confidences in relative rather than absolute terms. Often they reflect different schools of thought, each confident in their identifications.