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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadInternational Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Bethuel (1)
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be-thū´el (בּתוּ×ל, bethuÌ„'eÌ„l; “dweller in Godâ€): A son of Nahor and Milcah, Abraham's nephew, father of Laban and Rebekah (; , , , ; ; , ). In the last-named passage, he is surnamed “the Syrian.†The only place where he appears as a leading character in the narrative is in connection with Rebekah's betrothal to Isaac; and even here, his son Laban stands out more prominently than he - a fact explainable on the ground of the custom which recognized the right of the brother to take a special interest in the welfare of the sister (compare , , ; , ). Ant, I, xvi, 2 states that Bethuel was dead at this time.