A city on the border of Benjamin in the wilderness (Joshua 18:12), east of Bethel (Joshua 7:2) and west of Michmash (1 Samuel 13:5). It was the scene of a battle between Saul and the Philistines, in which the latter were defeated (1 Samuel 14:23).
In Hosea 4:15, 5:8, 10:5, Beth-aven is probably a disguise for Beth-el, particularly in 10:5, where calves of Beth-aven as objects of idolatry are mentioned.