Information AboutBethel |
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| ancient israel and judah | |
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Bethel (בֵּית אֵל), also written as '''Beth El''' or '''Beth-El''', meaning "House of God" (in general), or ". Bethel is mentioned several times in , a Canaanite name. Bethel was an important cult-centre for the northern Kingdom Of Israel following the break-up of the united kingdom of David and Solomon . The Second Book Of Kings describes how Jeroboam , first king of Israel, set up centres for his Golden Calf cult at Bethel on the southern boundary of his kingdom and Dan on the northern boundary, and appointed non-Levites as his priests. Jeroboam's decision to pass over the Mushite priests of Shiloh , the original cult-centre for Israel, deeply offended the Shiloh priesthood and seems to lie behind much of the animosity directed at Jeroboam and the golden calf in the Elohist text, which probably emanated from the Mushite priestly clan. Bethel escaped destruction during the Assyrian conquest of Israel (721 BC), but was occupied by king Josiah of Judah (c.640-609 BC), who, according to the Book Of Kings , destroyed the ancient Israelite cult centre."Bethel." Encyclopædia Britannica from Encyclopædia Britannica 2007 Ultimate Reference Suite (2007). The site of this centre has not been located by modern archaeolgists. REFERENCES SOURCES
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