south-east of Mount Olivet, adjoining Bethany on the west, nearly two miles east of Jerusalem, belonging to the priests. Here our Savior obtained the ass tor his lowly triumph.—(Comp. Luke xix. 28—40, with Matt, xxi. —11.)
Bethlehem. (Gen. xxxv. 19,) called also Bethlehem Ephratah, (Micah v 2,) was so inconsiderable a place as to be omitted in the general lists of the cities of Judah.—(Josh, xv; Neh. xi.) It was the birth-place of David, (Luke ii. 4, 11,) and was still more sacred and celebrated as the birth-place of the Redeemer.—(Matt. ii. 1; Luke ii. 4—6.) This city was about six miles south of Jerusalem. It is called Ephratah and Ephrath, and its inhabitants Ephrathites, from its founder.
Beeroth. (Josh. ix. 17; 2 Sam. iv. 2, 3.) A city of Benjamin, situated at the foot of the hill on which Gibeon was built, a few miles north-east of Jerusalem.—A place of the same name was also a station of the Israelites, (Deut. x. 6,) and is called Bene-jaakan. —(Num. xxxiii. 31.)
Bezek. (Judges i. 4.) A city in the tribe of Judah, where the Canaanites suffered a severe slaughter, and their king was taken prisoner. It was at Bezek that Saul mustered his army, before the attack on Jabesh-gilead. Ancient geographers speak of two towns by the name of Bezek, situated near each other, about 17 miles from Sichem, on the way to Beth-shan.
The Cities of Refuge, (Deut. xix. 7, 9; Josh. xx. 2, 7, 8,) were six of the Levitical cities, divinely appointed by the Jewish law as asylums, to which those were commanded to flee, for safety and protection, who might unintentionally kill a fellow being.
Decapolis, (Matt, iv 25.) Usually described as a province or canton of Judea, within the half tribe of Manasseh, east of the Jordan; but probably the name is applied to ten detached cities of Persia, which might have been united in some alliance or confederacy, not extending to the residue of the district within which they were situated. Geographers generally agree that Scythopolis was the chief of these cities.
Etam. A city in Judah, built by Rehoboam, (1 Chron. iv. 32; 2 Chron. xi. 6,) and lying between Bethlehem
