- Beth-zur
Beth-Zur (beth'-zur), also spelled Bethsura, Beth-tsur, Belt Cur, or Baith-sour, is a historically and archaeologically significant site in
Judea , referenced several times within theHebrew Bible and in the writings ofJosephus . It is the place where theBattle of Beth-Zur occurred. The ruined citadel can be found near the main road betweenJerusalem andHebron , approximately 4 miles north of latter. The site’s location is now disclosed by the presence of a ruined medieval tower. The name Beth-Zur means "house of rock," or less likely "house of the god Zur." Beth-Zur was inhabited in the lifetimes ofEusebius andJerome .Beth-Zur is mentioned in Joshua as being near
Halhul andGedor , in the Judean hill country. [ Joshua 15:58 ]Rehoboam is credited with its fortification. [2 Chronicles 11:7 ]Nehemiah is said to have been the ruler of a half district of the same name. [Nehemiah 3:16 ]During the
Maccabean wars , the site became quite significant, with theBattle of Beth-Zur in164 BC . [ 1 Macc. 4:29,61; 6:7,26,31,49,50; 9:52; 10:14; 11:65; 14:7,33 ] The site’s importance lay in its natural strength, on a hilltop dominating the highroad, and also in its guarding the one southerly approach for a hostile army by the Vale of Elah to the Judean plateau.Josephus describes Beth-Zur as the strongest place in allJudea . [ Ant., XIII, v, 6 ]The battle was the confrontation between the
Seleucid Greek generalLysias and theMaccabees , led byJudas Maccabeus , resulting in the defeat ofLysias and his forces. This victory was followed by the recapturing ofJerusalem by theMaccabees . The key to the battle was the exploitation of the natural terrain and fortifications, eventually causing theSeleucid Greeks to route.Notes
References
Masterman, E. W. G. (1915). " [http://studylight.org/enc/isb/view.cgi?number=T1441 Beth-Zur] ". "International Standard Bible Encyclopedia". Eds. Orr, James, M.A., D.D. Retrieved
December 9 ,2005 .Hutchinson, J. (1915). " [http://studylight.org/enc/isb/view.cgi?number=T5622 Lysias] ". "International Standard Bible Encyclopedia". Eds. Orr, James, M.A., D.D. Retrieved
December 12 ,2007 .
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