בֵּית עֲנָת
Beth-Anath, a place in Palestine
Definition
Beth-Anath is a proper noun referring to a fortified Canaanite city in the territory allotted to the tribe of Naphtali (Joshua 19:38). The name means 'House of Anath,' likely referencing a temple or cultic site dedicated to the Canaanite goddess Anath. Despite being assigned to Naphtali, the Israelites were unable to fully drive out the Canaanite inhabitants of Beth-Anath, instead subjecting them to forced labor (Judges 1:33). This location represents one of the unconquered strongholds within the Promised Land.
Biblical Usage
The name Beth-Anath appears only twice in the Old Testament, both times as a geographical location. In Joshua 19:38, it is listed among the fortified cities within the inheritance of Naphtali. In Judges 1:33, it is noted as a city from which the tribe of Naphtali failed to dispossess the Canaanites, illustrating the theme of incomplete conquest in the book of Judges.
Etymology
The name בֵּית עֲנָת (Bêyth ʻĂnâth) is a compound of בֵּית (bêyth, H1004), meaning 'house' or 'temple,' and עֲנָת (ʻănâth), the name of the Canaanite war goddess Anath. It is an orthographical variation of בֵּית עֲנוֹת (Bêyth ʻĂnôth, H1042). The name signifies a dwelling or sanctuary of this deity, a common naming convention for cultic sites.
Semantic Range
Beth-Anath serves as a tangible example of Israel's failure to fully obey God's command to eradicate Canaanite idolatry from the land (Deuteronomy 7:1-5, Judges 2:1-3). Its continued existence as a Canaanite stronghold, named for a pagan goddess, became a source of ongoing spiritual compromise and conflict. Understanding this place name enriches the reading of the conquest and Judges narratives by highlighting the concrete consequences of incomplete obedience.
In the ancient Near East, naming a location 'House of [Deity]' typically indicated a temple or major cult center dedicated to that god. Anath was a prominent goddess of war and fertility in the Canaanite pantheon, consort of the god Baal. A city bearing her name would have been a significant religious and political center for Canaanite worship, which stood in direct opposition to the worship of Yahweh. Its fortification made it a difficult military objective.
בֵּית עֲנוֹת (Bêyth ʻĂnôth, H1042) — An orthographical variant of the same place name.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
Full methodology & sources →