Bethel: Difference between revisions
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{{성경지명 | {{성경지명 | ||
|image=[[file:벧엘.PNG| | |image=[[file:벧엘.PNG|thumb|center|250px]] | ||
|title=Bethel | |title=Bethel | ||
|Location=19 km north of Jerusalem | |Location=19 km north of Jerusalem | ||
| | |Features=- Meaning “House of God”<br>- A pivotal hub for east-west trade routes <br>- A place of worship during the Old Testament era<br>- A center of idol worship during the Divided Kingdom period | ||
}} | }} | ||
'''Bethel''' (Hebrew: בֵּית־אֵל),<ref>[https://biblehub.com/hebrew/1008.htm Strong's Hebrew: 1008. בֵּית־אֵל], ''Bible Hub''</ref> meaning “House of [[God]],” was an ancient city located about 19 kilometers (11 miles) north of [[Jerusalem]].<ref>[http://biblefellowshipunion.co.uk/2011/Jan_Feb/Bethel.htm Bethel], ''Bible Study Monthly''</ref> Its original name was Luz,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+28%3A19&version=NIV |title=Genesis 28:19|quote= }}</ref> but it was called Bethel after Jacob encountered God there and received blessings. Bethel, which is significantly mentioned in the Old Testament, became the center of [[idol]] worship in the northern kingdom of Israel during the reign of [[Jeroboam]] I, but was purified during the religious reforms of King Josiah. | '''Bethel''' (Hebrew: בֵּית־אֵל),<ref>[https://biblehub.com/hebrew/1008.htm Strong's Hebrew: 1008. בֵּית־אֵל], ''Bible Hub''</ref> meaning “House of [[God]],” was an ancient city located about 19 kilometers (11 miles) north of [[Jerusalem]].<ref>[http://biblefellowshipunion.co.uk/2011/Jan_Feb/Bethel.htm Bethel], ''Bible Study Monthly''</ref> Its original name was Luz,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+28%3A19&version=NIV |title=Genesis 28:19|quote= }}</ref> but it was called Bethel after Jacob encountered God there and received blessings. Bethel, which is significantly mentioned in the Old Testament, became the center of [[idol]] worship in the northern kingdom of Israel during the reign of [[Jeroboam]] I, but was purified during the religious reforms of King Josiah. | ||
==Origin of Name== | ==Origin of Name== | ||
[[file:Jacobs Vision and Gods Promise.jpg | | [[file:Jacobs Vision and Gods Promise.jpg |thumb | 250px |''Jacob’s Vision and God’s Promise'' by the Providence Lithograph Company, 1906]] | ||
The original name of Bethel was Luz. While fleeing from his brother Esau’s anger to Paddan Aram, [[Jacob]] came to this place, used a stone as a pillow, and slept. After encountering God and receiving a blessing in his dream, he named the place “Bethel.”<br> | The original name of Bethel was Luz. While fleeing from his brother Esau’s anger to Paddan Aram, [[Jacob]] came to this place, used a stone as a pillow, and slept. After encountering God and receiving a blessing in his dream, he named the place “Bethel.”<br> | ||
{{quote5 |내용= Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Harran. When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep. He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. There above it stood the LORD, and he said: “. . . I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. . . .” When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” . . . “. . . This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.” Early the next morning Jacob took the stone he had placed under his head and set it up as a pillar and poured oil on top of it. He called that place '''Bethel''' . . . Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “. . . this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house . . .” |출처= [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2028%3A10%E2%80%9322&version=NIV Genesis 28:10–22]}} | {{quote5 |내용= Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Harran. When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep. He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. There above it stood the LORD, and he said: “. . . I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. . . .” When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” . . . “. . . This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.” Early the next morning Jacob took the stone he had placed under his head and set it up as a pillar and poured oil on top of it. He called that place '''Bethel''' . . . Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “. . . this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house . . .” |출처= [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2028%3A10%E2%80%9322&version=NIV Genesis 28:10–22]}} | ||
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==Geographic Feature== | ==Geographic Feature== | ||
[[file:Bethel MET DP116361.jpg | | [[file:Bethel MET DP116361.jpg |thumb | 250px |Beitin, the Arab West Bank village believed to be the location of ancient Bethel by Francis Frith, 1857]] | ||
After leaving Egypt, [[Abraham]] and Lot settled between Bethel and Ai. Both families prospered, but the land became too cramped for them to live together. When disputes arose between their shepherds, they decided to separate and settle in different areas. Abraham said to Lot, “If you go to the left, I’ll go to the right; if you go to the right, I’ll go to the left,” allowing Lot to choose first. Lot chose the eastern region and departed. Afterward, God instructed Abraham to lift his eyes and look to the north, south, east, and west, promising to give all the land he could see to him and his descendants. <ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+13%3A3-11&version=NIV |title=Genesis 13:3–11, 14-17 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> | After leaving Egypt, [[Abraham]] and Lot settled between Bethel and Ai. Both families prospered, but the land became too cramped for them to live together. When disputes arose between their shepherds, they decided to separate and settle in different areas. Abraham said to Lot, “If you go to the left, I’ll go to the right; if you go to the right, I’ll go to the left,” allowing Lot to choose first. Lot chose the eastern region and departed. Afterward, God instructed Abraham to lift his eyes and look to the north, south, east, and west, promising to give all the land he could see to him and his descendants. <ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+13%3A3-11&version=NIV |title=Genesis 13:3–11, 14-17 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> | ||
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==Bethel in the Bible== | ==Bethel in the Bible== | ||
===Patriarchal Age=== | ===Patriarchal Age=== | ||
[[file:Jacob at Bethel.jpg | | [[file:Jacob at Bethel.jpg |thumb | 200px |The Providence Lithograph Company, 1900: Jacob dreamed of angels ascending and descending a ladder at Bethel.]] | ||
The first mention of Bethel in the Bible occurs during the time of Abraham. Before moving to Egypt, Abraham built an altar there and pitched his tent.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+12%3A7-8&version=NIV |title=Genesis 12:7–8 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+13%3A3&version=NIV |title=Genesis 13:3|publisher= |quote= }}</ref> | The first mention of Bethel in the Bible occurs during the time of Abraham. Before moving to Egypt, Abraham built an altar there and pitched his tent.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+12%3A7-8&version=NIV |title=Genesis 12:7–8 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+13%3A3&version=NIV |title=Genesis 13:3|publisher= |quote= }}</ref> | ||
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*'''Center of Idolatry''' | *'''Center of Idolatry''' | ||
[[file:The golden calf at Bethel.jpg | | [[file:The golden calf at Bethel.jpg |thumb | 200px |''The Golden Calf at Bethel'' by unknown author, 1873]] | ||
:Jeroboam, having divided Israel, became the king of the northern kingdom. However, he feared the presence of the [[temple]] in [[Jerusalem]], located within the territory of the southern kingdom Judah. He realized that if the people traveled to Judah to offer sacrifices at the temple, his position would weaken. Consequently, he decided to establish an altar within the territory of northern Israel. Jeroboam created two golden calves and set them up as altars in Dan and Bethel, misleading the people by claiming they were the gods who led them out of Egypt. Consequently, the people, deceived by Jeroboam’s scheme, worshiped these idols, and Bethel, once a place where their ancestors offered [[Sacrifices in the Old Testament|sacrifices]] to God, became a center of idol worship. | :Jeroboam, having divided Israel, became the king of the northern kingdom. However, he feared the presence of the [[temple]] in [[Jerusalem]], located within the territory of the southern kingdom Judah. He realized that if the people traveled to Judah to offer sacrifices at the temple, his position would weaken. Consequently, he decided to establish an altar within the territory of northern Israel. Jeroboam created two golden calves and set them up as altars in Dan and Bethel, misleading the people by claiming they were the gods who led them out of Egypt. Consequently, the people, deceived by Jeroboam’s scheme, worshiped these idols, and Bethel, once a place where their ancestors offered [[Sacrifices in the Old Testament|sacrifices]] to God, became a center of idol worship. | ||
{{quote5 |내용= Jeroboam thought to himself, “The kingdom will now likely revert to the house of David. If these people go up to offer sacrifices at the temple of the LORD in Jerusalem, they will again give their allegiance to their lord, Rehoboam king of Judah. They will kill me and return to King Rehoboam.” After seeking advice, the king made two '''golden calves'''. He said to the people, “It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Here are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.” One he set up in Bethel, and the other in Dan. And this thing became a sin; the people came to worship the one at '''Bethel''' and went as far as Dan to worship the other. |출처= [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Kings%2012%3A26%E2%80%9330&version=NIV 1 Kings 12:26–30]}} | {{quote5 |내용= Jeroboam thought to himself, “The kingdom will now likely revert to the house of David. If these people go up to offer sacrifices at the temple of the LORD in Jerusalem, they will again give their allegiance to their lord, Rehoboam king of Judah. They will kill me and return to King Rehoboam.” After seeking advice, the king made two '''golden calves'''. He said to the people, “It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Here are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.” One he set up in Bethel, and the other in Dan. And this thing became a sin; the people came to worship the one at '''Bethel''' and went as far as Dan to worship the other. |출처= [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Kings%2012%3A26%E2%80%9330&version=NIV 1 Kings 12:26–30]}} | ||
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*'''King Josiah’s Reformation''' | *'''King Josiah’s Reformation''' | ||
[[file:The Destruction of The Altar at Bethel and The Exhumation of The Bones From The Sepulchres 1569 print by Maarten van Heemskerck, S.I 55725, Prints Department, Royal Library of Belgium.jpg | | [[file:The Destruction of The Altar at Bethel and The Exhumation of The Bones From The Sepulchres 1569 print by Maarten van Heemskerck, S.I 55725, Prints Department, Royal Library of Belgium.jpg |thumb | 250px |''The Destruction of The Altar at Bethel and The Exhumation of The Bones From The Sepulchres'' 1569 from the series “King Josiah Restores the Law of the Lord” by Philips Galle, based on designs by Maarten van Heemskerck]] | ||
:Bethel became a land inhabited by various peoples brought in by Assyria, leading to the worship of both God and foreign gods.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Kings+17%3A28-33&version=NIV |title=2 Kings 17:28–33 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> After observing the [[Passover]] according to the words of the Book of the Covenant, King [[Josiah]] of [[Southern Kingdom of Judah|Judah]] had his eyes opened and initiated a religious reform to abolish the idols. He tore down the altars of the other gods in Bethel and burned the bones of the priests who had offered sacrifices to the idols, exhuming them from their graves. | :Bethel became a land inhabited by various peoples brought in by Assyria, leading to the worship of both God and foreign gods.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Kings+17%3A28-33&version=NIV |title=2 Kings 17:28–33 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> After observing the [[Passover]] according to the words of the Book of the Covenant, King [[Josiah]] of [[Southern Kingdom of Judah|Judah]] had his eyes opened and initiated a religious reform to abolish the idols. He tore down the altars of the other gods in Bethel and burned the bones of the priests who had offered sacrifices to the idols, exhuming them from their graves. | ||
{{quote5 |내용= The king [King Josiah] stood by the pillar and renewed the covenant in the presence of the LORD—to follow the LORD and keep his commands, statutes and decrees with all his heart and all his soul, thus confirming the words of the covenant written in this book. Then all the people pledged themselves to the covenant. The king ordered Hilkiah the high priest, the priests next in rank and the doorkeepers to remove from the temple of the LORD all the articles made for Baal and Asherah and all the starry hosts. He burned them outside Jerusalem in the fields of the Kidron Valley and took the ashes to Bethel. . . . Even the altar at '''Bethel''', the high place made by Jeroboam son of Nebat, who had caused Israel to sin—even that altar and high place he demolished. He burned the high place and ground it to powder, and burned the Asherah pole also. . . . The king gave this order to all the people: “Celebrate the Passover to the LORD your God, as it is written in this Book of the Covenant.” Neither in the days of the judges who led Israel nor in the days of the kings of Israel and the kings of Judah had any such Passover been observed. But in the eighteenth year of King Josiah, this Passover was celebrated to the LORD in Jerusalem. |출처= [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Kings%2023%3A3%E2%80%9323&version=NIV 2 Kings 23:3–23]}} | {{quote5 |내용= The king [King Josiah] stood by the pillar and renewed the covenant in the presence of the LORD—to follow the LORD and keep his commands, statutes and decrees with all his heart and all his soul, thus confirming the words of the covenant written in this book. Then all the people pledged themselves to the covenant. The king ordered Hilkiah the high priest, the priests next in rank and the doorkeepers to remove from the temple of the LORD all the articles made for Baal and Asherah and all the starry hosts. He burned them outside Jerusalem in the fields of the Kidron Valley and took the ashes to Bethel. . . . Even the altar at '''Bethel''', the high place made by Jeroboam son of Nebat, who had caused Israel to sin—even that altar and high place he demolished. He burned the high place and ground it to powder, and burned the Asherah pole also. . . . The king gave this order to all the people: “Celebrate the Passover to the LORD your God, as it is written in this Book of the Covenant.” Neither in the days of the judges who led Israel nor in the days of the kings of Israel and the kings of Judah had any such Passover been observed. But in the eighteenth year of King Josiah, this Passover was celebrated to the LORD in Jerusalem. |출처= [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Kings%2023%3A3%E2%80%9323&version=NIV 2 Kings 23:3–23]}} | ||