bethzur Summary and Overview
Bible Dictionaries at a Glance
bethzur in Easton's Bible Dictionary
house of rock, a town in the mountains of Judah (Josh. 15:58), about 4 miles to the north of Hebron. It was built by Rehoboam for the defence of his kingdom (2 Chr. 11:7). It stood near the modern ed-Dirweh. Its ruins are still seen on a hill which bears the name of Beit-Sur, and which commands the road from Beersheba and Hebron to Jerusalem from the south.
bethzur in Smith's Bible Dictionary
(house of rock) a town in the mountains of Judah, built by Jeroboam, #Jos 15:58; 2Ch 11:7| now Beit-zur. It commands the road from Beersheba and Hebron, which has always been the main approach to Jerusalem from the south.
bethzur in Schaff's Bible Dictionary
BETH'ZUR (house of rock), in the mountains of Judah; built by Rehoboam; its ruler helped to repair Jerusalem, 2 Chr 11:7; Neh 3:16; now Beit Sur, 4 miles north of Hebron.
bethzur in Fausset's Bible Dictionary
("house of rock".) One of Judaea's strongest fortresses in the mountains of Judah, between Halhul and Gedor (Joshua 15:58). Maon, sprung from Hebron, was the father, i.e. founder, of Bethzur. It was fortified by Rehoboam as a stronghold of his new kingdom (2 Chronicles 11:7). The people of Bethzur helped Nehemiah (Nehemiah 3:16) to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem. A district was attached to it, half of which Nehemiah, son of Azbuk, was ruler over. Now Beitsur, commanding the road from Beersheba and Hebron, the main way to Jerusalem from the S. The adjoining spring traditions made the scene of the eunuch's baptism by Philip. The fact of its not being near the road to Gaza makes this doubtful (Acts 8:26; Acts 8:36).