Bethuel

be-thu'-el (bethu'el; "dweller in God"): A son of Nahor and Milcah, Abraham's nephew, father of Laban and Rebekah (Gen 22:23; Gen 24:15; Gen 24:24; Gen 24:47; Gen 24:50; Gen 25:20; Gen 28:2; Gen 28:5). 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 Gen 34:5; Gen 34:21; Gen 34:25; 2 Sam 13:20; 2 Sam 13:22). Ant, I, xvi, 2 states that Bethuel was dead at this time.

Frank E. Hirsch

be-thu'-el, beth'-u-el (bethu'el, "destroyed of God"): A town of Simeon (1 Chr 4:30), the same as Bethul (Josh 19:4), and, probably, as the Beth-el of 1 Sam 30:27.