Bible Dictionaries
Beth-Zur

Holman Bible Dictionary

(behth-zuhr) Place name meaning, “house of the rock.” 1. A city allotted to tribe of Judah (Joshua 15:58 ). Rehoboam, Solomon's son and successor as king of Judah (931-913 B.C.), built it up as a defense city (2 Chronicles 11:7 ) in view of the threat of Shishak of Egypt (2 Chronicles 12:2 ). A city official of Beth-zur helped Nehemiah repair Jerusalem and its wall (Nehemiah 3:16 ). It played a significant role in the wars of the Maccabeans in the period between the Testaments. It is located at khirbet et-Tubeiqeh, eighteen miles southwest of Jerusalem and four miles north of Hebron on a major highway intersection. This is one of the highest sites above sea level in Palestine.

2. Son of Maon in line of Caleb (1 Chronicles 2:45 ), apparently indicating the clan that settled the city.