it were, shuts them up to the commission of wicked acts, Heb. xii. 1. all others, Luke xv. 22. The best gifts are such as are most useful for BESIDE, BESIDES; (1.) More honouring of God, and doing good to than these, Gen. xix. 12. (2.) Dif-men, 1 Cor. xii. 31. ferent from, Numb. v. 20. (3.) Near BESTEAD: treated. To be hardto, Judg. vi. 37. To be beside one's ly bestead and hungry, is to be sore self, is to be deprived of the ordina-distressed, and almost famished, Isa. ry exercise of reason; to be mad, Mark iii. 21. Acts xxvi. 24. with Luke xv. 17. BESIEGE, is hostilely to surround a city or fort, in order to take possession of it by force, Deut. xxviii. 52. Jer. xxxix. 1. and lii. 5. viii. 21. BESTIR; to stir up; to act vigorously, 2 Sam. v. 24. BESTOW; (1.) To give out, Exod. xxxii. 29. John iv. 58. (2.) To lay up, Luke xii. 17, 18. 2 Kings v. 24. BESOM, an instrument to sweep BETAH, or TIBHATH, a city with. God's judgments are called a which David took from Hadadezer besom of destruction; they make a king of Syria, 2 Sam. viii. 8. 1 Chron. great stir and confusion; they fre-xviii. 8. It is perhaps the same as quently cut of multitudes; and, as BETEN, in the tribe of Asher, Josh. with ease, sweep them into the dung-xix. 25. hill of contempt and trouble, or pit of endless misery, Isa. xiv. 23. BETHABARA, a place where John baptized multitudes; and near BESOR, a brook in the south-west to which he pointed out Jesus Christ corner of Canaan. Here 200 of Da-to two of his disciples, John i. 28.-VID's men staid behind, being faint, As the word BETH, in the beginning while the other 400 pursued the A-of names, signifies house or temple; malekites who had burnt Ziklag, Sam. xxx. 9. It is said to fall into the Mediterranean sea between Gaza and Rhinocolura, and to be the same with the brook or river of the wilderness, Amos, vi. 14. To me Dr. Shaw has given sufficient evidence, that the brook Besor can be but a small one; and that it scarce can deserve the name of a river. It was perhaps in this brook or rivulet that the Ethiopian eunuch was baptized, Acts viii.had temples of idols in them. 26. to 39. BEST most excellent, valuable, commodious, comely, righteous, Ex. xxii. 5. Gen. xliii. 11. 1 Sam. xv. 9. &c. Heave-offerings, and restitution, were to be of the best things answerable thereto, Numb. xviii. 29. Exod. xxii. 5. Man's best state, is his state of innocence; his chief period of health and strength; and his most fixed circumstances of honour, pleasure, or wealth, Psalm xxxix. 5. The best robe, is Christ's imputed righteousness, which, in its origin, beauty, duration, and use, far exceeds || this signifies the house of passage Calmet, Jerome, and others, place it on the east bank of Jordan, near the place where the Hebrews passed that river, under Joshua. Others will have it, where Jacob passed the Jordan, a little south of the sea of Tiberias. Lightfoot says a good deal, to prove. it was situate to the north-east of that sea, in East Galilee. Perhaps most of the places beginning with BETH It BETHANY, a considerable village at the foot of mount Olivet, almost two miles east from Jerusalem. was the residence of Lazarus, and his sisters Martha and Mary. Here Mary poured the oil upon Christ's head, John xi. and xii. It is now quite inconsiderable; but they still pretend to shew you Lazarus' castle and grave, which the Turks use for a place of devotion. About a bow-shot distant, they show you the house of Mary Magdalene; and at the foot of the hill, you are shown the well of which the apostles used to drink. BETH-ARAM, BETH-ARAN, a ci- || 2 Chron. xiii. 19; but soon after rety of the Reubenites, to the north-taken. The Assyrians made terrible east of the Dead sea, and afterward slaughter and ravage in it, Hos. x. 8. called Livias, Numb. xxxii. 36. Josh. xiii. 17. BETHAVEN; either Bethel, so called, because of the idol there set up, or a place very near to it, Hos. iv. 15. Josh. vii. 2. See AVEN. BETHER; whether this was a distinct place, or the same with Betharam, Bethhoron, or, Bithron, I know not; but some mountains near it are represented as abounding with deer; if we may not rather render the words, the mountains of cliffs, or divisions, Song. ii. 17. A city called BETHBARA, a place were Gideon called the Ephraimites to post 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 tentsions, descended, and troubled the wahere for some time. The Canaanitester 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 * Or rather, who had an infirmity; for it wrested from the Israelites by Abijah, is not said how long he had lain at the pool. BETH-GAMUL, a city of the Reubenites, but afterwards seized by the Moabites, and ravaged by the Greek, and a third of Armenian 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. BETH-JESHIMOTH, a city of the Reubenites, about 10 miles east of Jordan. The Moabites seized on it: and at last it was destroyed by the Chaldeans, Joshua xiii. 20. Ezekiel XXV. 9. 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 has no vote in the chapter. The Bethlehmites, though outwardly of great simplicity, pass for the most refined politicians; insomuch as to be called 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. 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 Gallilce; 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 ness. 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 tetrach 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 same with Golan in Bashan. Peter visited by pilgrims. Here is a con- and Andrew were natives of Bethsaivent of the Latin, another of the da, John i. 44. Here Christ opened the eyes of a blind man, by anointing them with spittle, Mark viii. 22-26.|| Here many of Christ's miracles were performed, and contemned; vengeance overtook the despisers; the place being one of the first and most terribly distressed by the Romans, Matth. xi. 21, 22. that occasion, 1 Sam. vi. 12-19. Near this place, Jehoash king of Israel defeated and took Amaziah prisoner, 2 Chron. xxv. 21. The Philistines took this city from king Ahaz, 2 Chron. xxviii. 18. 2. BETH-SHEMESH, a city on the frontiers of Issachar's lot; but whether 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. BETH-SHAN, or BETH-SHEAN, a 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) 3. BETH-SHEMESH in Egypt, the retained it; and perhaps their being same as AVEN, or ON, Jer. xliii. 13. in alliance with the Philistines, was BETH-SHITTAH, a place whi the reason why Saul's corpse was ther the Midianites fled when they hung up on its wall, Judg. i. 27. 1 were routed by Gideon. It probably Sam. xxxi. 10. According to Pliny, lay on the south-west of the sea of it was afterward called Scythopolis, Tiberias, and belonged to the Mafrom the encampment of the Scythi-nassites, and abounded with Shittahans, who, about the time of Josiah,|| trees, Judg. vii. 22. made a terrible eruption into Western Asia: but others think it was so called from the Succoth, or booths | built thereabouts by Jacob, in his return from Padan-aram, Gen. xxxiii. 17, 18. BETH-TAPPUAH, a city or town on the south-west border of Canaan. It is said to have lain 14 miles beyond Raphia and if so, could be at no great distance from the Nile. Its name denotes it famous for apples, or having a temple sacred to the god of that fruit, Josh. xv. 53. BETHUEL; (1.) the son of Nahor and Milcah, cousin of Abraham and father of Laban and Rebekah, Gen. xxii. 20. and xxiv. 15, 29. and xxviii. 2. (2.) Bethuel, or Bethul, perhaps the same with Chesil, a city of the Simeonites. Could we credit the apocryphal history of Judith here or rather at another place of this name, a good way northward, Holofernes the Assyrian general was slain by her, and a great deliverance wrought for Israel, Josh. xix. 4. 1 Cor. iv. 29, 30. BETH-SHEMESH. 1. A city of the tribe of Judah given to the priests. Its name leads one to think that the Canaanites here had a temple to the sun, Josh. xxi. 16. It stood about 30 miles westward of Jerusalem. The kine with which the Philistines sent back the captive ark brought it to Beth-shemesh. The inhabitants profanely looked unto it, and were acstroyed of the Lord, to the number of 70 principal men, and 50,000 commons. Bochart and others, think the words ought to be rendered seventy men, even fifty out of a thousandThey can hardly think that God would 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. Beth-shemesh, might be gathered on Maccabeus came to succour it, and Judas Lysias was forced to retreat: but || puted righteousness: and in judgnext year the Syrians took and re- ment, with great wisdom and prutained it for some years, till Jona- dence; and in faithfulness, in fulfilthan the Maccabee wrested it from ment of his covenant and promise, them. and sincerely determined to fulfil the marriage trust toward them; and in BETIMES; (1) Early in the morning, Gen. xxví. 31. (2.) Sea-loving kindness and mercies to their sonably 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 The espousals among the Jews was either by a formal writing, or contract in the presence of witnesses; or, without writing, by the man's giving a piece of sil 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. 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 comfortable, 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 active, hoiy, and zealous for God, content with our lot, happy in ourselves, and a comfort to all around us, Song i. 2. His obedience and suffering are 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 We read in Matthew i. 18. that, when full remission, and eternal salvation, Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they to his enemies and murderers; wherecame together, she was found with child of as Abel's, imprecated vengeance on the Holy Ghost. It was no doubt, by his murderer, Heb. xii. 24. special providence of God, that Mary was his fruit, word, and saving instructhus espoused to Joseph, before the conception of Jesus Christ, in order that her tion, are better than gold, than ruperson might be preserved from persecu-bies; are more valuable, delightful, tion and her character from reproach, useful, exalting, and durable, Prov. while the miraculous manner of her con- viii. 14, 19. and iii. 14. Psal. cxix. ception was unknown; that she might 72. His priesthood, and the promihave 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 He, |