Betomasthem (Greek: Βαıτομασθαίμ, Baitomasthaim) or Betomestham (Βετομεσθαίμ, Betomesthaim) is an unidentified town from the Book of Judith.
Location
Betomasthem is described in the Book of Judith as a town "over against Esdraelon, facing the plain that is near Dothaim", and in the vicinity of "Bebai, Chobai, and Cola, in the coasts of Israel". From the manner of its mention, it would seem to have been of equal importance with Bethulia itself, but it is doubtful whether it indicates any historical locality whatever. It can hardly be Deir Massīn, which lies west of "the plain that is near Dothan". The district is clearly indicated, but no identification has been possible. Adam Zertal and Nivi Mirkam have suggested the site of el-Baṭn, located between the Jezreel and Dothan Valleys, as a possible candidate for Betomasthem. Theologian Antoine Augustin Calmet wrote in his commentary on the book of Judith, the "Commentaire littéral sur tous les livres de l'ancien et du nouveau testament: "Béthomesthaim is Betsamés, or, according to the Syriac pronunciation, Bétomesta". This identification identifies Betomasthem as Beth Shemesh. However, this is much too south to be anywhere near the Jezreel valley.
References
- ^ Judith, 15:4.
- ^ Judith, 4:6.
- McClintock; Strong 1880, p. 791.
- McClintock; Strong 1880, pp. 791–92.
- Orr, ed. 1915, p. 454.
- Zertal; Mirkam 2016, pp. 74–75.
- https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=KSpRAAAAcAAJ&pg=GBS.PA394&hl=en
Sources
Attribution:
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: McClintock, John; Strong, James (1880). "Betomas'them, Betomes'tham". Cyclopædia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature. Vol. I.—A, B. New York: Harper & Brothers. pp. 791–92.- This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: Orr, James, ed. (1915). "Betomesthaim, Betomasthaim". The International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia. Vol. I.—A–Clemency. Chicago: The Howard-Severance Company. p. 454.
- Zertal, Adam; Mirkam, Nivi (2016). The Manasseh Hill Country Survey: Volume 3: From Nahal ‘Iron to Nahal Shechem. BRILL. pp. 74–75. ISBN 978-90-04-31230-2.