Original Word: בֵּית חָגְלָה
Part of Speech: Proper Name Location
Transliteration: Beyth Choglah
Pronunciation: bayth khog-law'
Phonetic Spelling: (bayth chog-law')
KJV: Beth-hoglah
NASB: Beth-hoglah
Word Origin: [from H1004 (בַּיִת - house) and the same as H2295 (חָגלָה - Hoglah)]

1. house of a partridge
2. Beth-Choglah, a place in Israel

Beth-hoglah

From bayith and the same as Choglah; house of a partridge; Beth-Choglah, a place in Palestine -- Beth-hoglah.

see HEBREW bayith

see HEBREW Choglah

Word Origin
from bayith and a word from the same as Choglah
Definition
"place of partridge," a place in Benjamin
NASB Translation
Beth-hoglah (3).

בֵּית חָגְלָה proper name, of a location (place of partridge) in Benjamin, on border of Judah Joshua 15:6; ׳בֵּיתחֿ Joshua 18:19,21, modern ±Ain „ajla (or Qaƒr „ajla compare Rob & Di Genesis 50:11) Rob^{BR i. 544} Bd^{Pal 172}.

Name and Meaning

Beth Hoglah (“House of Partridge”) evokes the picture of a fragile desert bird that survives by vigilance. The name itself hints at an oasis-like refuge on the arid lower Jordan plain.

Geographical Setting

Situated in the lower Jordan Valley just above the Dead Sea, Beth Hoglah stood east of Jericho and west of the river. The site is usually identified with the modern ruin and spring of ‘Ain Hajlah, approximately ten kilometers southeast of Jericho. The ground is flat, alluvial, and prone to seasonal flooding, making the location a natural landmark for borders.

Biblical References and Context

1. Joshua 15:6 — listed among the boundary markers of Judah’s tribal allotment:

“The boundary went up to Beth Hoglah and proceeded north to Beth Arabah…”.
2. Joshua 18:19 — fixed on the southern border of Benjamin:

“Then the border continued to the north slope of Beth Hoglah and came out at the northern bay of the Salt Sea, at the mouth of the Jordan. This was the southern border.”.
3. Joshua 18:21 — counted within Benjamin’s inheritance:

“The cities of the tribe of the Benjamites according to their clans were Jericho, Beth Hoglah, Emek Keziz…”.

Role in Tribal Boundaries

Beth Hoglah is unique in that it serves both as a boundary marker between Judah and Benjamin and as a city belonging to Benjamin. Its double listing underscores the precision with which the land was divided. The Lord’s instructions through Joshua were neither vague nor symbolic; they were survey-level accurate. Such detail testifies to God’s covenant faithfulness in granting each tribe its allotted inheritance (Genesis 12:7; Numbers 34:2).

Historical Background

The allocation described in Joshua occurred shortly after Israel’s entry into Canaan (circa fourteenth-thirteenth century B.C.). Beth Hoglah’s location near Jericho—Israel’s first conquest—suggests that it rapidly became part of Israelite administration. Although archaeological data from ‘Ain Hajlah are sparse, surface pottery and scattered foundations indicate occupation in Iron Age I, fitting the biblical timetable.

Ministry Significance and Lessons

• God Honors Specific Promises: Beth Hoglah reminds believers that divine promises are executed in concrete detail. Just as a small border town received mention, so every believer’s inheritance in Christ is secure and particular (Ephesians 1:14).
• Boundaries Promote Peace: Clear territorial lines avoided inter-tribal strife. Likewise, defined spiritual and moral boundaries safeguard the unity of the church (Galatians 6:2-5).
• Faithfulness in Obscurity: Beth Hoglah never hosts a major battle or prophet, yet its inclusion in Scripture demonstrates that obscurity to men does not erase significance before God (1 Corinthians 12:22).

Archaeological and Scholarly Insights

The general scholarly consensus aligns Beth Hoglah with ‘Ain Hajlah, though some propose Tell el-Mafjar (near Hisham’s Palace). Both sites fit the biblical distances and topography. The absence of monumental architecture supports the picture of a modest village rather than a fortified city, fitting Benjamin’s mostly agrarian profile.

Related Themes and Cross-References

• Boundary towns: Beth Arabah, Gilgal, En Shemesh (Joshua 15:6-7).
• Inheritance secured by divine lot: Proverbs 16:33; Acts 17:26.
• The Jordan Valley in redemptive history: crossings at Joshua 3–4; ministry of John the Baptist (Matthew 3:1-6); baptism of Jesus (Matthew 3:13-17).

Summary

Beth Hoglah, though mentioned only three times, serves as a tangible witness to the Lord’s meticulous care in apportioning the Promised Land. Its strategic yet humble position by the Jordan underlines themes of inherited blessing, ordered community, and the value God assigns to every place and person within His covenant plan.

חָגְלָ֔ה חָגְלָ֖ה חָגְלָה֮ חגלה chageLah ḥā·ḡə·lāh ḥāḡəlāhInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts