Bible Encyclopedias
Berothah

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

bē̇ -rō´tha ( Ezekiel 47:16 : בּרותה , bērōthāh ; Septuagint Codex Vaticanus, Ἀβθηρά , Abthērá ; or BEROTHAI 2 Samuel 8:8; בּרתי , bērōthai , where for מבּרתי rof ere , mibbērōthai Septuagint reads ek tō̇n eklektō̇n póleōn , "from the select cities"): Probably two forms of the same name. Ezekiel 47:16 places it on the ideal northern frontier of Israel, between Damascus and Hamath. According to 2 Samuel 8:8 it was a city of Hadadezer, king of Zobah. In the parallel passage ( 1 Chronicles 18:8 ) Cun is given in place of Berothai. Its site is unknown. Ewald connected it with Beirût (so also apparently H. P. Smith, ICC , "Samuel," 307), but Ezekiel's description excludes this view. Others have sought it in the Wady Brissa, in the East slope of Lebanon, North of Baalbec. A more plausible conjecture identifies it with Bereitān (Brithēn ), a village somewhat South of Baalbec (Baedeker, Pal 3, 369). Possibly, however, the ideal northern frontier line should be drawn farther south. See HETHLON; ZEDAD; ZOBAH .