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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadMcClintock Biblical Encyclopedia: Berite
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(Heb. only in the plur., and with the art., hab-Berim', äִáֵּøִéí , derivation uncertain [Gesenius and Furst both overlook the word altogether], if indeed the text be not corrupt; Sept. ἐí ×áῤῥß , but most copies omit), a tribe or place named with Abel of Bethmaachah-and therefore doubtless situated in the north of Palestine-only as having been visited by Joab in his pursuit after Sheba, the son of Bichri (2Sa_20:14). The expression is a remarkable one, “all the Berites” (comp. “all the Bithron”). The Vulgate has a different rendering-omnes viri elect — apparently for áִּçֻøִéí , i.e. young men, and this is, in Ewald's opinion, the correct reading (Isr. Gesch. 3, 249, note). Schwarz, however, is inclined to regard it as a collective term for several places of similar name mentioned in Josephus and the Talmud as lying in the vicinity of Lake Merom (Palest. p. 203); and Thomson (Land and Book, 1, 425) conjectures that it may specially designate the Beroth ( Âçñώèç ) of Upper Galilee, where. according to Josephus (Ant. 5, 1, 18), the Canaanitish kings encamped against Joshua (comp. Jos_11:5), and which he identifies with Biria, a short distance north of Safed (Van de Velde, Map).