Penuel in Fausset's Bible Dictionary

(See PENIEL.) Between Jabbok and Succoth (Genesis 32:22-30- 31; Genesis 33:17). Gideon after Succoth mounted to Penuel (Judges 8:5-8.) (See GIDEON.) It then had a tower. Jeroboam fortified Penuel (1 Kings 12:25.) The men of Penuel, like those of Succoth, as living on the great army route between Canaan and the East, would not help Gideon through fear of Midian's vengeance. Penuel was a frontier fortress built "by the way of them that dwelt in tents" (i.e., their usual route along the course of the Jabbok, where they would have a level way and grass and water, down to the Damieh ford of the Jordan, and so into Canaan). Hence arose Jeroboam's need of rebuilding the tower which Gideon had broken down long before, and which lay due E. from his capital. Four miles above "Canaan's ford" are two conical hills called "hills of gold" (Dhahab) from the yellow sandstone; one is on one side, the other on the other side, of the stream. The western one is larger and has more ruins; the ruins on the eastern one are remarkable, a platform running along its precipitous side, strengthened by a wall 20 ft. high and very solid. The work is cyclopean and of the oldest times; and there are no ruins along the Jabbok course for 50 miles save those. The strange aspect of the place harmonizes with the name given after Jacob's wrestling with the angel of Jehovah, "the Face of God."