St. Pachomius Library

Bethulia

Greek BAITYLUA

The hometown of the Righteous Judith and setting of the book named for her, otherwise unknown. A variety of locations have been suggested, Shechem most frequently. The original Hebrew form of the name was perhaps "Bethulah Jah", i.e. the Lord's Virgin. However, other reconstructions are possible: "Beth El-Jah" ("House of the Lord God") and "Bethelija" ("Lofty Abode", since Bethulia was in the mountains).
Under construction --- far from complete! Read with caution.

ABOUT:
- Charles C. Torrey: The Site of "Bethulia", (1899). Journal of the American Oriental Society (20): 160. Presents a now widely-accepted argument that Bethulia is Shechem, a Samaritan city much hated by the Jews.

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