BETH-ARAM, BETH-ARAN, a ci- 2 Chron. xiii. 19; but soon after retaken. The Assyrians made terrible slaughter and ravage in it, Hos. x. 8.

ty of the Reubenites, to the northeast of the Dead sea, and afterward called Livias, Numb. xxxii. 36. Josh. xiii. 17.

BETHER; whether this was a distinct place, or the same with BeBETHAVEN; either Bethel, so tharam, Bethhoron, or Bithron, I cailed, because of the idol there set know not; but some mountains near up, or a place very near to it, Hos. iv. it are represented as abounding with 15. Josh. vii. 2. See AVEN. deer; if we may not rather render BETHBARA, a place where Gide-the words, the mountains of cliffs, or on called the Ephraimites to post divisions, Song ii. 17. A city called themselves, to stop the flying Midi-Bither, or Bitter, sustained a terrible anites. If this be the same with BETHABARA, it seems plain that it was south of the Galilean sea; as there the Midianites crossed the Jordan: and there the borders of Ephraim were, Judg. vii. 24.

BETHCAR, a city of the Danites. Thus far the Hebrews, under Samuel, pursued the Philistines; and near to it he set up his Eben-ezer, 1 Sam.

vii. 11.

siege about 100 years after Christ's death. It is said, the blood which ran down the river stained the sea four miles from the shore. Eusebius thinks this place stood near Jerusalem; but more probably it stood near mount Carmel, and at no great distance from Cæsarea.

BETHESDA, a pool on the east of Jerusalem, The name signifies, either a draught-house, or house of BETHEL, a city about eight, some mercy; so called, because a public say twelve, miles northward of Jeru- bath was here erected; or because salem, and a mile westward of Ai-God graciously bestowed a healing The place was originally called Luz, virtue on the waters of it. As it lay from the almond and hazel bushes but a little to the north-east of the that grew here. Here Jacob lodged temple, the sacrifices might be washunder the open sky, as he went to Pa-ed in it; but it did not thence derive its dan-aram. An eminent vision which healing virtue. Some years before he there enjoyed, made him call it our Saviour and divine Healer came BETHEL, the house of God. About in the flesh, an angel on some occa30 years after, he pitched his tent sions, descended, and troubled the wahere for some time. The Canaanites ter of this pool. Whoever first, afbuilt a city on the spot, and called it ter the agitation, bathed himself in it, Luz, or Bethel. Joshua took it, along was healed of whatever disease he had. with Ai, and gave it to the Ephraimites. Multitudes of distressed persons, These after Joshua's death, resolved to therefore, waited in its five porches expel the Canaanites, who had refor- till the water was moved. One man tified it. One of the inhabitants shew-attended it* 38 years, and was at last ed them a secret passage into it, up-cured by our Saviour; the healing on condition that he and his family virtue of whose blood, Spirit, and should have their lives spared. This word, the pool no doubt typified, John man and his family retired to Arabia, || v. 1-6. It is said to be now 120 where he built another city called paces long, 40 broad, and 8 deep, but Luz. The other inhabitants were empty of water. put to the sword. In Bethel, Jeroboam set up one of his idolatrous calves, on which account it was called Aven, or Bethaven, the temple of idols, or wickedness, or vanity. Bethel was wrested from the Israelites by Abijah,

BETH-GAMUL, a city of the Reubenites, but afterwards seized by

* Or rather, who had an infirmity; for it is not said how long he had lain at the pool.

the Moabites, and ravaged by the Chaldeans, Jer. xlviii. 23.

BETH-HACCEREM, a city standing on a hill, it seems noted for vineyards, between Jerusalem and Tekoah. Hence the alarm of the Chaldeans' approach was given to the former, Jer. vi. 1. And here Malchia, a repairer of the wall of Jerusalem, was prince, Neh. iii. 14.

BETH-HOGLA, a city about half way between Jericho and Jordan: it pertained to the Benjamites, Joshua xviii. 21.

BETH-HORON, two cities of this name, the one in a lower situation than the other, pertained to the tribe of Ephraim, 1 Chron. vii. 24. Solomon repaired and fortified Beth-horon the Nether, 1 Kings ix. 17.

BETHINK themselves; consider, and repent of their sins, 1 Kings viii. 49.

Greek, and a third of Armenian Christians. Here they shew you the stable where Christ was born; the manger which he had for his cradle; the grotto where he and his mother lay hid from the rage of Herod, before they departed for Egypt. About half a mile to the eastward you are shown the fields where the angels appeared to the shepherds, Luke ii. 112. Matth. ii. 1.

2. BETHLEHEM, a city of the Zebulunites, Josh. xix. 15.

BETHLEHMITES, in church history, a sort of monks introduced into England in 1257. They wore on their breast a star with five rays, in memory of the star or comet which appeared over Bethlehem at the nativity of our Saviour. There is an order of Bethlemites in Peru, who have convents at Lima. For their Almoner they choose a secular priest, whom they hire, and who BETH-JESHIMOTH, a city of has no vote in the chapter. The Beththe Reubenites, about 10 miles east of lehmites, though outwardly of great Jordan. The Moabites seized on it: || simplicity, pass for the most refined and at last it was destroyed by the politicians; insomuch as to be called Chaldeans, Joshua xiii. 20. Ezekiel the quintessence of the Carmelites and Jesuits. Ency. BETH-MEON. See BAALMEON. BETH-PHAGE, a small village belonging to the priests. It was adjacent to Bethany, and near two miles east of Jerusalem. Here our Saviour obtained the ass for his lowly triumph, Matth. xxi. 1.

XXV. 9.

BETHLEHEM. 1. A city of Judah, about six miles south of Jerusalem, and situated in a declivity of a hill. It is also called Ephratah and Ephrath, and its inhabitants Ephrathites, from its founder. It was never considerable for wealth or extent, but for giving birth to Ibzan, Elime- BETHSAIDA, a city of Galilee ; lech, Boaz, David, and chiefly to Je- but whether it lay at the north-west, sus the promised Messiah, Gen. xxxv. north-east, or rather south-east side 16, 19. and xlviii. 7. Ruth. i. 2. Psal. of the sea of Tiberias, is not agreed. cxxxii. 6. Mic. v. 2. Micah the pro- Its name imports, that it was a place phet no way contradicts Matthew the of fishing or hunting; and on which evangelist, with respect to its great- side soever of the Jordan it lay, it It might be little, and yet not was commodious for both the adjathe least. Besides, Matthew but relates cent country abounded with deer, and the Jews rehearsal of the text in Mi-the sea with fish. It is said Philip cah, Matth. ii. 6. Moreover, тZAHH- the tetrarch formed it into a magnifiHIR, rendered little, in Mic. v. 2. may cent city, called Julias, after the name there, and in Jer. xlviii. 4. and xlix. of Augustus the emperor's daughter. 20. Zech. xiii. 7. be rendered consider--Others will have Julias to be the able; chief. Bethlehem is still much visited by pilgrims. Here is a convent of the Latin, another of the

ness.

:

same with Golan in Bashan. Peter and Andrew were natives of Bethsaida, John i. 44. Here Christ opened

the eyes of a blind man, by anointing || that occasion, 1 Sam. vi. 12—19.— them with spittle, Mark viii. 22-26. Near this place, Jehoash king of IsHere many of Christ's miracles were rael defeated and took Amaziah priperformed, and contemned; ven- soner, 2 Chron. xxv. 21. The Phigeance overtook the despisers; the listines took this city from king Ahaz, place being one of the first and most 2 Chron. xxviii. 18. terribly distressed by the Romans, Matth. xi. 21, 22.

2. BETH-SHEMESH, a city on the frontiers of Issachar's lot; but whe

BETH-SHAN, OP BETH-SHEAN, ather it be the same that pertained to

the tribe of Naphtali, and out of which they expelled not the Canaanites, is uncertain, Josh. xix. 22, 38. Judg. i. 33.

3. BETH-SHEMESH in Egypt, the same as AVEN, or ON, Jer. xliii. 13. BETH-SHITTAH, a place whither the Midianites fled when they were routed by Gideon. It probably lay on the south-west of the sea of Tiberias, and belonged to the Manassites, and abounded with Shittahtrees, Judg. vii. 22.

city of the Manassites, on the west of Jordan, and about 75, or rather 60 miles north-east of Jerusalem, and at the east end of the plain of Jezreel, Josh. xvii. 11. The Canaanites long retained it; and perhaps their being in alliance with the Philistines, was the reason why Saul's corpse was hung up on its wall, Judg. i. 27. 1 Sam. xxxi. 10. According to Pliny, it was afterward called Scythopolis, from the encampment of the Scythians, who, about the time of Josiah, made a terrible irruption into Wes- BETH-TAPPUAH, a city or town tern Asia but others think it was on the south-west border of Canaan. so called from the Succoth, or booths It is said to have lain 14 miles beyond built thereabouts by Jacob, in his re-Raphia: and if so, could be at no turn from Padan-aram, Gen. xxxiii.great distance from the Nile. Its 17, 18. name denotes it famous for apples, or having a temple sacred to the god of that fruit, Josh. xv. 53.

BETH-SHEMESH. 1. A city of the tribe of Judah, given to the priests. Its name leads one to think BETHUEL; (1.) the son of Nathat the Canaanites here had a temple hor and Milcah, cousin of Abraham, to the sun, Josh. xxi. 16. It stood a- and father of Laban and Rebekah, bout 30 miles westward of Jerusalem. Gen. xxii. 20. and xxiv. 15, 29. and The kine with which the Philistines xxviii. 2. (2.) Bethuel, or Bethul, sent back the captive ark brought it perhaps the same with Chesil, a city to Beth-shemesh. The inhabitants of the Simeonites. Could we credit profanely looked into it, and were de- the apocryphal history of Judith here, stroyed of the Lord, to the number or rather at another place of this of 70 principal men, and 50,000 com-name, a good way northward, Holomons. Bochart and others, think the fernes the Assyrian general was slain words ought to be rendered seventy by her, and a great deliverance men, even fifty out of a thousand.- wrought for Israel, Josh. xix. 4. I They can hardly think that God would Cor. iv. 29, 30. so severely punish a mistaken look ; BETHZUR, a noted city on the they cannot believe Beth-shemesh || south of Judah, and confines of Edom, could afford 50,000 persons capable and at no great distance from Hebron. of offending. This reasoning has no Rehoboam fortified it, Josh. xv. 53. great strength. God alone knows 2 Chron. xi. 17. In the Maccabean what severity is proper to be exercis-war it was extremely strong. Lysias, ed on the breakers of his law. the Syro-grecian general, besieged it Numbers, besides the inhabitants of with an army of 65,000 men. Judas Beth-shemesh, might be gathered on Maccabeus came to succour it, and

Lysias was forced to retreat: but next year the Syrians took and retained it for some years, till Jonathan the Maccabee wrested it from

them.

BETIMES; (1.) Early in the morning, Gen. xxvi. 31. (2.) Seasonably; on every proper occasion, 2 Chron. xxxvi. 15. (3.) Continually; carefully, Job viii. 5.

BETRAY; dishonestly to give up one to his enemies, 1 Chron. xii. 17. Matth. xxvi. 2, 16, 21, 48..

BETROTH, or ESPOUSE; to promise, or contract marriage, Deuter. xxviii. 30.* God betroths or espouses people to himself, when he enters them into the relation of a church to himself, Jer. ii. 2; chiefly when he unites them to Jesus Christ, that they may have a saving interest in his person, righteousness, grace, and glory, and he and they may rejoice in one another. He betroths them for ever, by an everlasting covenant, that neither time, sin, nor any thing else, can disannul; and in righteousness, consistently with his essential righteousness, and cloathed with his im

puted righteousness: and in judg ment, with great wisdom and prudence; and in faithfulness, in fulfilment of his covenant and promise, and sincerely determined to fulfil the marriage-trust toward them; and in loving-kindness and mercies to their persons, so base, wretched, guilty, vile, and rebellious, Song iii. 11. Hos. ii. 19, 20. Of this, ministers, by the preaching of the gospel, are means and instruments, 2 Cor. xi. 2.

BETTER; (1.) More valuable; preferable, Eccl. ix. 4, 16, 18. (2.) More acceptable, 1 Sam. xv. 22. (3.) More able, and wise, Dan. i. 20. (4.) More convenient, 1 Cor. vii. 38. (5.) More easy, Matt. xviii. 6. (6.) More advantageous, Phil. i. 23. (7.) More holy, 1 Cor. viii. 8. (8.) More safe, Psal. cxviii. 8. (9.) More comfort able, Prov. xv. 16, 17.

God's love is better than life, is more sweet, pleasant, profitable, sure, and honourable, Psalm Ixiii. 3.Christ's love is better than wine; we cannot sinfully exceed in desire of, or delight in it; it is enjoyed without money and without price; it never loses its sweetness and virtue: our living on it by faith, renders us acThe espousals among the Jews was tive, holy, and zealous for God, coneither by a formal writing, or contract in tent with our lot, happy in ourselves, the presence of witnesses; or, without and a comfort to all around us, Song writing, by the man's giving a piece of sil-i. 2. His obedience and suffering are ver to the bride before witnesses, and saying to her, Receive this piece of silver, as a pledge, that at such a time you shall become my spouse. After the marriage was thus contracted, the young people had the liberty of seeing each other, which was not allowed them before.

better sacrifices than the Jewish, in respect of matter, manner of oblation, efficacy, and fruit, Heb. ix. 23. His blood speaks better things than that of Abel: it purchases and procures full remission, and eternal salvation, to his enemies and murderers ;whereas Abel's, imprecated vengeance on his murderer, Heb. xii. 24. He, his fruit, word, and saving instruction, are better than gold, than rus bies; are more valuable, delightful, useful, exalting, and durable, Prov. viii. 14, 19. and iii. 14. Psal. cxix. 72. His priesthood, and the promi

We read in Matthew i. 18. that, when Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. It was, no doubt, by a special providence of God, that Mary was thus espoused to Joseph, before the conception of Jesus Christ, in order that her person might be preserved from persecution and her character from reproach, while the miraculous manner of her conception was unknown; that she might have a guardian; and that respect might be put upon the married state, in opposi-ses of the gospel, are a better hope; tion to that doctrine of devils that forbid- a more clear, sure, honourable, and extensive ground of hope, for all the

deth to marry.

VOL. I.

2 A

:

blessings of time and eternity, than exercises, and enjoyments, are far the Jewish sacrifices and shadows more holy, honoured, and happy, could be, Heb. vii. 19. The_better || than these on earth and to be with covenant, established on better pro- Christ is far better than to be with mises, is the covenant of grace, which, saints and ordinances on earth; as in respect of its party contracted with, one is freed from every stain of sin, its freedom, firmness, benefits con- every temptation and trouble, and ferred, honour, and use, is far prefer- clearly sees, and fully enjoys and deable to the covenant of works: and lights in God as his all in all, Heb. is better than the national covenant xi. 16. Phil. i. 23. It is better to made with the Hebrews at Sinai; it marry than to burn under the power promises far more valuable blessings of unclean lust; the greatest trouble than the quiet possession of Canaan; is to be chosen, rather than sinful deand is more sure and permanent; sires however secret. Sorrow and and the New Testament dispensation mourning are better than laughter of it, is far more spiritual, easy, clear, and mirth; they more tend to awakand extensive, than the Old, Heb. vii. en a concern about eternal things, 22. and viii. 6. Our condition under|| Eccl. vii. 2, 3. Death, or the end the gospel, is a better thing than theirs of a man, is better than his birth under the law. Our revelation is more or beginning; as in the former, he plain, full, and extensive: our ordi- goes out of worldly trouble, whereas nances are more clear, spiritual, and in the other, he enters into it easy: we have the substance of their an untimely birth is better than either, ceremonies, with infinite advantage, as it never enters into trouble, Eccl. in Christ's birth, life, death, resurrec-iv. 2, 3. and vi. 4, 5, 6. and vii. 8.tion, and ascension; have a more abundant and wide-spread effusion of the Holy Ghost, and a more eminent freedom from the impression of the broken law on our conscience, Heb. xi. 40.

and

Better is the light of the eye than the wandering of the desire. It is better to enjoy the little that one has, than to indulge anxious desire after more, Eccl. vi. 9. Nothing is better than for a man to eat, drink, and be merry, and enjoy his labour. It is both advantageous and honourable for a man to free his mind from anxious care, and take a moderate use of what God brings to his hand, Eccl. ii. 24. and iii. 12, 13. and viii. 15.

BEULAH, a name given to the Jewish nation and church of God in the latter days, importing their marriage to Christ, as their husband and sovereign Lord, Isa. Ixii. 4. BEWAIL; to mourn over with deep sighs, Levit. x. 6. Deuter. xxi. 13.

A day in God's courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. Fellowship with him is infinitely more delightful, profitable, and honourable, than any earthly advantage, Psalm lxxxiv. 10. A little that a righteous man hath, his dinner of herbs, or dry morsel, is better than the wealth or delicate provision of the wicked. It springs from God's redeeming love, is blessed of him, is a pledge of glory, and a means of drawing the affections and thoughts to God in Christ, Psal. xxxvii. 16. Prov. xv, 16, 17. and xvi. 8. xvii. 1. The saints' re- BEWARE; to take heed; be on surrection is better, more glorious our guard, Gen. xxiv. 6. To beware and happy, than a recovery from a of Christ, is to have a due and holy state of affliction; or a miraculous awe of him on our spirit, and carefulrestoration to natural life; or the re-ly to guard against every thing tendsurrection of the wicked to everlasting to offend him, Exod. xxiii. 21.— ing damnation, Heb. xi. 35. Heaven To beware of men, is to take heed is a better country; its inhabitants, lest they deceive us, Mark xii. 38.—