Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Walter R. Mattfeld" <mattfeld12 AT charter.net>]

Yigal wrote :
"Interesting. I'll take a look at the Benjamin region survey next time I get
to the library. What does Peterson say about the origin of the name?"

Dear Yigal,

Peterson does not explore the origins of the name.


Cf. the below archaeological surface surveys for the two Beth-horons in the 
following source (% refers to the numbers of sherds collected in the area, I 
have NOT listed sherd counts or %'s  for later eras, Roman -Ottoman):

Israel Finkelstein & Yitzhak Magen, editors. _Archaeological Survey of the 
Hill Country of Benjamin_. Jerusalem. 1993. ISBN 965-406-007-8.

p.15*
No. 22:15 Beit 'Ur et-Tahta. 30 (?) dunams.
Arab village on tel; terraces to north.
Iron I a single sherd; Iron II -27%; Persian -3%; Hellenistic -27%;

p.16*
No. 28:16 Beit 'Ur el-Fauqa 15 (?) dunams. (See also No. 143 below)
Arab village on prominent hill.
MB -a few sherds; Iron I -36%; Iron II  -66%; Persian -4%; Hellenistc -12%;

p. 28*
No. 143:16 Beit 'Ur el-Fauqa, 18 dunams. (See also No. 28 above)
Arab village; caves; oil-press' portion of Roman road; reservoir; burial 
caves; rock-cut wine-press; cisterns.
Iron II -46%; Hellenistic 12%;

It appears that Peterson may be "in error" about a Late Bronze Age  for 
either of the Beth-horons from the above survey, as neither survey indicated 
any LBA sherds ?

This survey of course raises questions. If Joshua routed a Canaanite 
coalition at the ascent/descent of Beth-horon, is this alluding to the MB 
site, as there is no LBA site (assuming a LBA Exodus of ca. 1446 or 1260 
BCE) ?

Regards, Walter

Walter Reinhold Warttig Mattfeld y de la Torre, M.A. Ed.
mattfeld12 AT charter.net
www.bibleorigins.net