Bible Dictionary
Bithron
Bithron was a craggy gorge or district in the Jordan valley east of the river. Abner traveled through it while going toward Mahanaim.
Definition
Bithron, more precisely “the Bithron,” denotes a gorge, ravine, or broken district in the Jordan valley east of the river. The term may describe a route rather than a proper place-name.
Biblical Usage
Abner traveled through the Bithron as he approached Mahanaim. The passage identifies the gorge or district as part of his route.
Historical Background
Suggested identifications include Wady ‘Ajlun and Wady esh-Sha‘ib. The name means the gorge or groove, and the supplied material notes that it may refer to the entire land extending along such a route.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Smith's Bible Dictionary
more accurately the Bithron (a craggy gorge or ravine), a place, doubtless a district, in the Jordan valley on the east side of the river. (2 Samuel 2:29)
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>bith'-ron (ha-bithron; holen ten parateinousan, literally "the entire (land) extending"; 2Sa 2:29, "the Bithron," i.e. the gorge or groove): Does not seem to be a proper name; rather it indicates the gorge by which Abner approached Mahanaim. Buhl (GAP, 121) favors identification with Wady `Ajlun, along which in later times a Ro road connected `Ajlun and Mahanaim. Others (Guthe, Kurz. bib. Worterbuch, under the word) incline to Wady esh Sha`ib.</p>