Beth-Aven

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

Beth-Aven (‘house of iniquity,’ or ‘idolatry’?). Close to Ai (  Joshua 7:2 ), by the wilderness (  Joshua 18:12 ), north-west of Michmash (  1 Samuel 13:5 ), and on the way to Aijalon (  1 Samuel 14:23 ), still inhabited in the 8th cent. b.c. (  Hosea 5:8 ). The ‘calves of Bethaven’ were probably those at Bethel close by (  Hosea 10:5 ). Bethel is probably meant also in   Hosea 4:15;   Hosea 5:8 (see   Amos 5:5 )   Hosea 10:8 (Aven).

People's Dictionary of the Bible

Beth-aven ( Bĕth'Â'Ven ), House Of Vanity. or Idols. A place and desert near Bethel on the east,  Joshua 7:2;  Joshua 18:12;  1 Samuel 13:5;  1 Samuel 14:23; a name reproachfully used at times for Bethel itself, after the golden calves were there set up,  Hosea 4:15;  Hosea 10:5; Bethel meaning the "house of God."

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

A place and desert near Bethel on the east,  Joshua 7:2;  18:12;  1 Samuel 13:5;  14:23 . It seems to be reproachfully used at times for Bethel itself, after the golden calves were there set up,  Hosea 4:15;  10:5 : Beth-el meaning the house of God; and Beth-aven, the house of sin, or of an idol.

Holman Bible Dictionary

 Joshua 7:2 Joshua 18:12 1 Samuel 13:5 1 Samuel 14:23 Hosea 4:15 Hosea 5:8 Hosea 10:5 Hosea 10:8

Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary

It is the same place as Bethel. But after Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, set up his golden calves there, the pious among the Israelites called it Beth-aven; meaning, the house of iniquity; for it was no longer proper to call it Beth-el, the house of God. ( 1 Kings 12:26-33)

Easton's Bible Dictionary

 Joshua 7:2 18:12 1 Samuel 13:5 Hosea 4:15 5:8 10:5

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(Heb. Beyth A'ven, בֵּית אָוֶן , House Of Nothingness, i.e. wickedness, idolatry; Sept. usually Βαιθών v. r. Βηθαύν ), a place on the mountains of Benjamin, east of Bethel ( Joshua 7:2, Sept. Βαιθήλ ; 18:12), and lying between that place and Michmash ( 1 Samuel 13:5, Sept. Βαιθαβέν v. r. Βαιθωρών ; also 14:23, Sept. Τὴν Βαμώθ ). In  Joshua 18:12, the "wilderness" ( Midbar = pasture-land) of Beth-aven is mentioned. In  Hosea 4:15;  Hosea 5:8;  Hosea 10:5, the name is transferred, with a play on the word very characteristic of this prophet, to the neighboring Bethel — once the "house of God," but then the house of idols, of "naught." The Talmudists accordingly everywhere confound Beth-aven with Bethel (comp. Schwarz, Palest. p. 89), the proximity of which may have occasioned the employment of the term as a nickname, after Bethel became the seat of the worship of the golden calves. (See Bethel). The name Beth-aven, however, was properly that of a locality distinct from Bethel ( Joshua 7:2, etc.), and appears to have been applied to a village located on the rocky eminence Burj Beitin, twenty minutes south-east of Beitin (Bethel), and twenty minutes west of Tell el-Hajar (Ai) (Van de Velde, Memoir, p. 294).

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

beth - ā´ven ( בּית און , bēth 'āwen  ; Βαιθών , Baithō̇n , Βαιθαύν , Baithaún ): A place on the northern boundary of the territory of Benjamin ( Joshua 18:12 ) East of Bethel, near Ai ( Joshua 7:2 ), West of Michmash ( 1 Samuel 13:5;  1 Samuel 14:23 ). Beth-aven, "house of vanity," i.e. "idolatry," may possibly represent an original beth - 'on , "house of wealth." Wilson ( PEFS , 1869, 126) suggests Khirbet An , West of Michmash. The name is used in mockery for Bethel by Hosea ( Hosea 4:15;  Hosea 10:5 ,  Hosea 10:8 , etc.; compare  Amos 5:5 ).