Bible Encyclopedias

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature

Beth-Zur

Beth´-Zur, a town in the tribe of Judah (Joshua 15:58), twenty Roman miles from Jerusalem, on the road to Hebron, and consequently two miles from the latter city. It was fortified by Rehoboam (2 Chronicles 11:7). The inhabitants assisted in building the walls of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 3:16). Lysias was defeated in the neighborhood by Judas Maccabeus, who fortified the place as a stronghold against Idumea. It was besieged and taken by Antiochus Eupator, and fortified by Bacchides, whose garrison defended themselves against Jonathan Maccabeus; but it was taken and fortified by his brother Simon. Josephus calls Beth-zur the strongest fortress in Judea. Its site has not been ascertained.