Bible Dictionary
Berothah
A city of Hadadezer in the region of Zobah and a place named on Ezekiel’s ideal northern boundary of Israel. Its exact location is uncertain.
Definition
Berothah was a city connected with Hadadezer, king of Zobah, and a place named in Ezekiel’s description of the ideal northern boundary of Israel. It is probably a form of Berothai.
Biblical Usage
Ezekiel places Berothah between Damascus and Hamath on the ideal northern frontier. Berothai is mentioned as a city of Hadadezer from which David took spoil.
Historical Background
The site is unknown. Suggestions include a location near springs by Hasbeya, east of the Lebanon, or near Baalbec; identification with Beirut is considered unsuitable by the supplied material.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Smith's Bible Dictionary
(toward the wells), Bero’-tha-i (my wells). The first of these two names is given by Ezekiel, (Ezekiel 47:16) in connection with Hahlath and Damascus as forming part of the northern boundary of the promised land. The second is mentioned, (2 Samuel 8:8) in the same connection. The well-known city Beirut (Berytus) naturally suggests itself as identical with one at least of the names; but in each instance the circumstances of the case seem to require a position farther east. They were probably in the vicinity of the springs near the present Hasbeya.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>be-ro'-tha (Eze 47:16: berothah; Septuagint Codex Vaticanus, Abthera; or <em>BEROTHAH #2Sa 8:8</em>; berothai, where for mibberothai Septuagint reads ek ton eklekton poleon, "from the select cities"): Probably two forms of the same name. Eze 47:16 places it on the ideal northern frontier of Israel, between Damascus and Hamath. According to 2Sa 8:8 it was a city of Hadadezer, king of Zobah. In the parallel passage (1Ch 18:8) Cun is given in place of Berothai. Its site is unknown. Ewald connected it with Beirut (so also apparently H. P. Smith, ICC, "Samuel," 307), but Ezekiel's description excludes this view. Others have sought it in the Wady Brissa, in the East slope of Lebanon, North of Baalbec. A more plausible conjecture identifies it with Bereitan (Brithen), a village somewhat South of Baalbec (Baedeker, Pal3, 369). Possibly, however, the ideal northern frontier line should be drawn farther south. See HETHLON; ZEDAD; ZOBAH.</p><p>C. H. Thomson</p>