בֵּית־רְחוֹב (bet re.chov)
bet re.chov
Beth-rehob
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The proper noun Beth-rehob, meaning "house of the street" or possibly a place of market activity, identifies a specific location in the northern territory of Israel. The sources place this town within the region of Dan, situated strategically along the route leading north toward Hamath.
This site appears only twice in the biblical text, both times marking territorial boundaries rather than serving as a center for narrative action. In Judges 18:28, it defines the northern limit of the land held by the tribe of Dan, while 2 Samuel 8:8 references it in the context of David’s military campaigns reaching this far north.
Its name suggests a settlement built around a thoroughfare or open public space, highlighting its role as a waypoint on an important travel corridor. The brevity of its mentions underscores its function as a geographical marker for the extent of Israelite influence during the periods described in these books.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Beth-rehob appears in Scripture as a distant northern boundary, marking the furthest extent of Israel’s influence during the time of David and the judges. Its name suggests a place of open space or thoroughfare, a waypoint where travelers might pause before entering unfamiliar territory. For readers today, this remote location reminds us that God’s providence extends to the farthest corners of the earth, even to places mentioned only in passing.
When we encounter such brief references, it is easy to feel disconnected from the text. Yet these geographical markers ground our faith in real history. They show that the biblical narrative is not confined to Jerusalem or the temple courts but reaches into the lives of people living on the edges of society and empire. This awareness can bring comfort, knowing that God’s care is not limited to central or prominent locations.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Rehob2×
- [belongs] to/ Beth1×
- Beth1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- רְח֜וֹב1×
- רְח֑וֹב1×
- לְ/בֵית\־1×
- בֵּית\־1×
Key Verses
-
Judges 18:28
There was no deliverer, because it was far from Sidon, and they had no dealings with anyone else; and it was in the valley that lies by Beth Rehob. They built the city and lived in it.
This verse establishes Beth-rehob as the northern boundary of the tribe of Dan's territory, highlighting its role as a geographical limit rather than a center of activity.
-
II Samuel 10:6
When the children of Ammon saw that they had become odious to David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Beth Rehob and the Syrians of Zobah, twenty thousand footmen, and the king of Maacah with one thousand men, and the men of Tob twelve thousand men.
Here, the city is mentioned as a source of hired mercenaries for the Ammonites, showing its strategic importance in regional conflicts beyond Israel's borders.