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Bethu-el

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(Heb. Bethu בְּתוּאֵל ), the name of a man and also of a place.

1. (For מְתוּאּאֵל, individual of God, (See METHU)-; Sept. Βαθουήλ, Josephus Βαθούηλος .) The son of Nahor by Milcah, nephew of Abraham, and father of Rebekah (Genesis 22:22-23; Genesis 24:15; Genesis 24:24; Genesis 24:47; Genesis 28:2). In 25:20, and 28:5, he is called "Bethuel the Syrian" (i.e. Aramite). Though often referred to as above in the narrative of Rebekah's marriage, Bethuel only appears in person once (24:50), for her brother Laban takes the leading part in the transaction. Upon this an ingenious conjecture is raised by Blunt (Coincidences, 1, 4) that he was the subject of some imbecility or other incapacity. The Jewish tradition, as given in the Targum Ps. — Jonathan on Genesis 24:55 (comp. 33), is that he died on the morning after the arrival of Abraham's servant, owing to his having eaten a sauce containing poison at the meal the evening before, and that on that account Laban requested that his sister's departure might be delayed for a year or ten months. Josephus was perhaps aware of this tradition, since he speaks of Bethuel as dead (Ant. 1, 16, 2). B.C. 2023. (See SISTER).

2. (For בֵּיתאּאֵל, house of God; Sept. Βαθουήλ v. r. Βαθούλ .) A southern city of Judah, i.e. Simeon (1 Chronicles 4:30), elsewhere (Joshua 19:4) called BETHUL (See BETHUL) (q.v.).