BETH-HORON (bi'th'heo'ron), of caverns or holes). Two places of this name arc distinguished in Scripture as the Upper and Nether Beth-boron (Josh. xvi: 3, 5; xviii:13; t Chron. vii:24).
The Nether Beth-horon lay in the northwest corner of Benjamin ; and between the two places was a pass called both the ascent and descent of Beth-horon, leading from the region of Gibeon (el-Jib) down to the western plain ( Josh. xviii :13, 14 ; x :10, 11 ; t Mace. iii :16, 24). Down this pass the five kings of the Amorites were driven by Joshua ( Josh. x :II). The upper and lower towris were both fortified by Solomon (1 Kings ix :17; 2 Chron. viii :5).
Dr. Robinson gathers that in ancient times, as at the present day, the great road of communica tion and of heavy transport between Jerusalem and the seacoast was by the pass of Beth-horon (Bib. Researches, iii :61).
From the time of Jerome the place appears to have been unnoticed till 18o1, when Dr. E. D. Clarke recognized it in the present Beit-Ur (Travels, vol. i, pt. ii, p. 628), after which it appears to have remained unvisited till 1838, when the Rev. J. Paxton, and, a few days after. Dr. Robinson, arrived at the place. The Lower Beit Ur is upon the top of a low ridge, which is separ ated by a wady, or narrow valley, from the foot of the mountain upon which the Upper Beit-Ur stands. Both are now inhabited villages. The
lower is very small, but foundations of large stones indicate an ancient site—doubtless that of the Nether Beth-horon. The Upper Beit-Ur is likewise small, but also exhibits traces of ancient walls and foundations. In the steep ascent to it the rock is in some parts cut away and the path formed into steps, indicating an ancient road. On the first offset or step of the ascent are founda tions of huge stones, the remains, perhaps, of a castle, that once guarded the pass.
(beth'jesh'i-moth or -jes'i meth), (Heb. bayth hoh-yesh-ee-moth', place of desolations), a city of Reuben, between the mountains of Abarim and the Jordan (Num. xxxiii:49), about ten miles southeast of Jericho (Josh. xii:3; xiii:2o), afterwards possessed by the Moabites (Ezek. xxv:9).
(bethle-5ph'rah), (Heb.
of dust; so in R. V., Mic. :1o; "house of Apha rah" in the A. V.). Probably identical with the modern Beit-Ojja, six miles southeast of Ashdod (Robinson's Researches, ii:369 note; Van de \'elde, mat).
J. A. Selbie, Hastings' Bib. Diet., says the site is quite unknown.
(beth'lel'a-Oth), (Heb. IT:7% bayth-leb-aw-oth', house of lionesses), a city of Simeon (Josh. xix:6), called Lebaoth (chap. xv:32). Not identified.