Beth-aven was a town and wilderness near Ai and Bethel, associated with idolatry and Israel's defeat.
Also known as Beth Aven
Beth-aven, meaning "house of wickedness" or "house of idolatry" in Hebrew, was a town and wilderness area mentioned in the Old Testament. In Joshua 7:2, Beth-aven is described as being east of Bethel and near the city of Ai. Spies were sent from Joshua's camp at Gilgal to Ai, and they reported that the city was small and could be easily defeated. However, when the Israelites attacked Ai, they were defeated because of the sin of Achan (Joshua 7:3-5).
In Joshua 18:12, Beth-aven is mentioned as part of the northern border of the territory allotted to the tribe of Benjamin, near Bethel. Later, in 1Sa.13.5, the Philistines gathered their forces at Michmash, east of Beth-aven, in preparation for battle against Israel. During this conflict, Saul's son Jonathan and his armor-bearer initiated an attack on the Philistine garrison, which led to a great victory for Israel (1Sa.14.1-23).
The prophets Hosea and Amos used Beth-aven as a derogatory term for Bethel, which had become a center of idolatry in Israel (Hosea 4:15; 5:8; 10:5). Hosea warned the people not to go to Gilgal or Beth-aven, and Amos denounced the idolatrous practices at Bethel.
Approximate location: 31.896, 35.253 · view on a map · on the Bible atlas
House of nothingness; i.e., “of idols”, a place in the mountains of Benjamin, east of Bethel (Josh. 7:2; 18:12; 1 Sam. 13:5). In Hos. 4:15; 5:8; 10:5 it stands for “Bethel” (q.v.), and it is so called because it was no longer the “house of God,” but “the house of idols,” referring to the calves there worshipped.
the house of vanity; of iniquity of trouble
BETH-A'VEN (house of naught, or idols), east of Bethel, Josh 7:2; Josh 18:12; 1 Sam 13:5; 1 Sam 14:23; used as a name for Bethel, "house of God;" changed to Beth-aven, ''house of idols." Hos 4:15; Hos 5:8; Hos 10:5.
BETH-A'VEN (house of naught, or idols), east of Bethel, Josh 7:2; Josh 18:12; 1 Sam 13:5; 1 Sam 14:23; used as a name for Bethel, "house of God;" changed to Beth-aven, ''house of idols." Hos 4:15; Hos 5:8; Hos 10:5.
Easton (1897), Smith (1863), Hitchcock (1869), Hastings (1898) and Schaff are in the public domain. Parsed text: neuu-org/bible-dictionary-dataset (CC BY 4.0). Headwords and whitespace normalised for this site.
7 verses in 3 books · English text: BSB (change it from the menu at the top) · Strong’s H1007
Meanwhile, Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth-aven to the east of Bethel, and told them, “Go up and spy out the land.” So the men went up and spied out Ai.
On the north side their border began at the Jordan, went up past the northern slope of Jericho, headed west through the hill country, and came out at the wilderness of Beth-aven.
Now the Philistines assembled to fight against Israel with three thousand chariots, six thousand horsemen, and troops as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They went up and camped at Michmash, east of Beth-aven.
So the LORD saved Israel that day, and the battle moved on beyond Beth-aven.
Though you prostitute yourself, O Israel, may Judah avoid such guilt! Do not journey to Gilgal, do not go up to Beth-aven, and do not swear on oath, ‘As surely as the LORD lives!’
Blow the ramʼs horn in Gibeah, the trumpet in Ramah; raise the battle cry in Beth-aven: Lead on, O Benjamin!
The people of Samaria will fear for the calf of Beth-aven. Indeed, its people will mourn over it with its idolatrous priests— those who rejoiced in its glory— for it has been taken from them into exile.
Names, family links and references: STEPBible TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Short descriptions were drafted with AI assistance by STEPBible. Family links follow STEPBible’s scholarly decisions where genealogies are ambiguous.