Places in the Bible Today:

Bethel 2

Data

Translated NamesBeth-el, Bethel
Typesettlement
Geo Data KML (for Google Earth)
GeoJSON (for GIS applications)

5 Possible Identifications

  1. Khirbet el Qaryatein (modern): 30% confidence

    1. satellite view of the region around Khirbet el QaryateinKhirbet el Qaryatein

  2. another name for Bethuel (ancient): 30% confidence. It may be:

    1. satellite view of the region around Khirbet ar RasKhirbet ar Ras

    2. satellite view of the region around Khirbet el QaryateinKhirbet el Qaryatein

    3. satellite view of the region around Tel KelekhTel Kelekh

    4. satellite view of the region around Tell es SaqatiTell es Saqati

  3. another name for Bethul (ancient): 20% confidence. It may be:

    1. satellite view of the region around Khirbet ar RasKhirbet ar Ras

    2. building at Umm BatinTell Umm Betin

    3. satellite view of the region around Khirbet el QaryateinKhirbet el Qaryatein

    4. satellite view of the region around Tel KelekhTel Kelekh

    5. satellite view of the region around Tell es SaqatiTell es Saqati

  4. Tell Umm Betin (modern): less than 10% confidence

    1. building at Umm BatinTell Umm Betin

  5. another name for Beth-zur (ancient): less than 10% confidence

    1. historical panorama of Khirbet et TubeiqaKhirbet et Tubeiqa

Verses (1)

1Sam 30:27

Linked Data Identifiers

SourceIdentifier
Logos FactbookBethel (of Judah)
OpenBible.info (2007)Bethel 2
OpenBible.infoaeb5f24 (Bethel 2)
TIPNRBethel@Jos.12.16
UBS Names Databaseot ID_516

Sources

  1. Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary (1992): Bethel (place)
  2. Baly, Atlas of the Biblical World (1971): Bethel
  3. Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000): Bethel (place)
  4. Expositor’s Bible Commentary (1984): 1Sam 30:26-31
  5. Gordon, I and II Samuel (1986): 1Sam 30:27
  6. Grollenberg, Atlas of the Bible (1957): Bethel
  7. Hess, Joshua (1996): table 11
  8. Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (2003)
  9. Holman Illustrated Guide to Bible Geography (2020): page 150
  10. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1979): Bethel
  11. IVP Old Testament Bible Background Commentary (2000): 1Sam 30:27-31
  12. Lexham Bible Dictionary (2016): Bethel in the Negev
  13. McKinny, Historical Geography of the Administrative Division of Judah (2014): page 100
  14. Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary (2014): Bethel
  15. New Unger’s Bible Dictionary (1988)
  16. Reader’s Digest Atlas of the Bible (1981): Bethel
  17. Tyndale Bible Dictionary (2001): Bethel (Place), Bethelite
  18. Westminster Historical Atlas to the Bible (1956): Bethel
  19. Wycliffe Bible Encyclopedia (1975): Bethel
  20. Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary (2009): 1Sam 30:27-31

Confidence Trends over Time

This chart indicates how confidence in the identifications is changing over time. Each dot (connected by a dotted line) reflects the confidence of an identification over the preceding ten years (e.g., the 2009 dot reflects scholarship from 2000 to 2009), and the corresponding solid line reflects a best-fit line for the identification. Confidences that cluster near or below 0% indicate low confidence. Because of the small dataset, it's best to use this chart for general trends; if one identification is trending much higher than the others, for example, then you can probably have higher confidence in the identification. This chart only reflects the sources I consulted (listed above), not an exhaustive review of the literature.

Places with Similar Names

Thumbnail Image Credits

Contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data 2019, MidEastMedStudent, Willem van de Poll

About

This page attempts to identify all the possible locations where this biblical place could be. The confidence levels add up to less than 100%, indicating that the modern location is uncertain. It's best to think about the confidences in relative rather than absolute terms. Often they reflect different schools of thought, each confident in their identifications.