Beth-biri
Beth-biri is an ancient city mentioned in the Old Testament, located in the region of Negev in modern-day Israel. Known today as Jebel el Biri. It appears across 1 verse in Scripture.
Biblical History
Beth-biri appears in the genealogical lists of 1 Chronicles 4:31 as one of the settlements occupied by the tribe of Simeon in the Negev region of southern Israel. The passage lists it alongside other Simeonite towns such as Hazar-susim and Beth-marcaboth, painting a picture of a network of small settlements scattered across the arid southern territories allotted to this tribe. The name may mean "house of my creation" or "house of Biri," possibly preserving the memory of a founding figure. Simeon's territory was unusual in that it was enclave within the larger tribal allotment of Judah (Joshua 19:1-9), reflecting the diminished status the tribe held following Simeon's actions at Shechem (Genesis 34) and Jacob's prophetic curse (Genesis 49:5-7). These settlements in the Negev represent the actual distribution of Simeonite clans across a demanding landscape. Beth-biri's mention in Chronicles, composed during or after the Babylonian exile, served to preserve the memory of tribal geography and identity for a community seeking to reconstruct its historical roots.
Archaeological & Historical Notes
Beth-biri is tentatively identified with a site in the northern Negev, sometimes associated with the area near Jebel el Biri, a distinctive geological formation south of Beersheba. The Negev region where Simeonite settlements were clustered has been subject to extensive archaeological survey, particularly through the work of Yohanan Aharoni in the mid-twentieth century. Iron Age sites in this area typically show evidence of agricultural terracing, cisterns, and small domestic structures adapted to the harsh semi-arid environment. The specific site of Beth-biri has not been conclusively identified through excavation, and its location remains a matter of scholarly discussion based on comparative toponymy and regional survey data.
Verse Appearances (1)
1Chr
References
- Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
- OpenBible.info (n.d.) Bible Geocoding. Available at: https://www.openbible.info/geo/. [CC BY 4.0]
- Bagnall, R. et al. (eds.) (n.d.) Pleiades: A Gazetteer of Past Places. Available at: https://pleiades.stoa.org. [CC BY 3.0]
- Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]