Bible Study: Bethel in the Bible

Bethel, meaning "house of God," was an important city in ancient Israel, located about 12 miles north of Jerusalem. It was a place of significant religious and historical events.

Early History

• Genesis 12:8: Abraham built an altar near Bethel and called on the name of the Lord.

• Genesis 13:3: Abraham returned to the same altar near Bethel.

Jacob's Connection to Bethel

• Genesis 28:10-19: Jacob's dream of a ladder to heaven occurred at Bethel. In this dream, God reaffirmed the covenant promises to Jacob. Jacob named the place Bethel.

• Genesis 31:13: God reminds Jacob of His covenant at Bethel and instructs him to return there.

• Genesis 35:1-15: Jacob builds an altar at Bethel in obedience to God's command. God appears to Jacob, renews the covenant, and changes Jacob's name to Israel.

• Genesis 35:6: Jacob and his people came to Luz (that is, Bethel).

• Genesis 35:15: Jacob named the place where God had spoken with him, Bethel.

• Genesis 48:3: Jacob recounts God's appearance to him at Luz (Bethel).

Bethel in the Conquest and Settlement of Canaan

• Joshua 16:2: Bethel is mentioned as being in the territory allotted to the descendants of Joseph.

• Joshua 16:2; 18:13: Bethel is located on the border between the tribes of Benjamin and Ephraim.

• Joshua 12:16: The king of Bethel is listed among those defeated by Joshua.

• Joshua 18:22: Bethel is listed as one of the cities allotted to the tribe of Benjamin.

• Judges 1:22-26: Bethel is captured by the house of Joseph.

Bethel in the Period of the Judges and Early Monarchy

• Judges 4:4-5: Deborah, a prophetess and judge, held court between Ramah and Bethel.

• Judges 20:1, 18: The Israelites gather at Bethel to seek God's guidance before going to war against the Benjamites.

• 1 Samuel 7:16: Samuel judged Israel in a circuit that included Bethel.

• 1 Samuel 10:3: Saul is told he will meet men going up to worship God at Bethel.

• 1 Samuel 30:27: David sent some of the spoil to the elders in Bethel.

Bethel in the Divided Kingdom

• 1 Kings 12:28-33: Jeroboam I, king of the northern kingdom of Israel, established a golden calf at Bethel, making it a center of idolatrous worship.

• 1 Kings 13:1-3: A prophet prophesied against the altar at Bethel.

• 2 Kings 2:2-3: Elijah and Elisha visit Bethel.

• 2 Kings 2:23: Elisha is mocked by young men in Bethel.

• 2 Kings 10:29: Bethel remained a site of idolatry.

• 2 Kings 17:28: A priest from Assyria came to Bethel to teach the people how to worship the Lord.

• 2 Kings 23:4, 15: Josiah destroys the high places and altar at Bethel as part of his religious reforms.

• 2 Chronicles 13:19: Bethel is mentioned as being captured by Abijah, king of Judah.

Bethel in the Post-Exilic Period

• Ezra 2:28; Nehemiah 7:32: Men of Bethel and Ai return from the Babylonian exile.

• Nehemiah 11:31: Benjamites resettled in Bethel.

Prophetic References

• Amos 3:14; 5:5-6: The prophet Amos speaks against the idolatry practiced at Bethel.

• Hosea 10:15: The prophet Hosea refers to the wickedness at Bethel.

Significance of Bethel

• A Place of Encounter with God: Bethel was where both Jacob and Abraham had significant encounters with God.

• Center of Worship: Bethel became an important religious site, both for true worship and later for idolatrous practices.

• Geographical Marker: Bethel's location made it a reference point in describing the territories of Israel.

Bible Study: Bethel in the Bible