Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

BETHER

(Gk. Baithēr; Heb. beṯer)

A town in the region allocated to Judah (Josh. 15:59 LXX) near Jersualem. The site has been identified as Khirbet el-Yahudi (162126), just SW of Mittar (where the ancient name is retained), 11 km. (7 mi.) SW of Jerusalem. Bether (perhaps “house of the mountain”) is also noted in Cant. 2:17, but the usage is likely descriptive as opposed to a proper name; in either case it adds nothing to the identity of the site. Bether is most notable as the location of the final capital of the Bar Kokhba Rebellion (Second Jewish Revolt), a.d. 132-135. In 135 the Roman general Hadrian took the city and massacred the rebels, ending the revolt. The site name has had varied spellings (Bettar, Bittir, and Beithther) throughout history from Iron Age I to the Roman era.

Bibliography. W. D. Carroll, “Bittir and Its Archaeological Remains,” AASOR 5 (1923-24): 77-104; J. Simons, The Geographical and Topographical Texts of the Old Testament (Leiden, 1959); D. Ussishkin, “Archeological Soundings at Betar, Bar Kochba’s Last Stronghold,” Tel Aviv 20 (1993): 66-97.

Dennis M. Swanson

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

BETHER

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)