Original Word: בֵּית עֲנָת
Part of Speech: Proper Name Location
Transliteration: Beyth `Anath
Pronunciation: bayth-a-nath'
Phonetic Spelling: (bayth an-awth')
KJV: Beth-anath
NASB: Beth-anath
Word Origin: [an orthographical variation for H1042 (בֵּיתּ עֲנוֹת - Beth-anoth)]

1. Beth-Anath, a place in Israel

Beth-anath

An orthographical variation for Beyth 'Anowth; Beth-Anath, a place in Palestine -- Beth-anath.

see HEBREW Beyth 'Anowth

Word Origin
from bayith and a word from the same as Anath
Definition
"temple of Anat," a place in Naphtali
NASB Translation
Beth-anath (3).

בֵּיתעֲֿנָת proper name, of a location in Naphtali (temple of `Anât Nes<sup>Eg 114</sup> Bae<sup>Rel 53</sup> Mey<sup>ZMG 1877, 718</sup>) Joshua 19:38; Judges 1:33; ׳בֵּית ע Judges 1:33; — perhaps modern Ain-Ata see d. Velde<sup>Narr. i. 170</sup>, 6 miles west of Kedesh (name `Anata Guérin^{Gal. ii. 374}; `Ainîtha, Survey^{i. 200}).

Geographical Setting

Beth Anath lay within the tribal allotment of Naphtali in Upper Galilee, most plausibly identified with modern Biʿna northeast of Acre. The site commands the western approaches to the Galilean hill country, offering fertile valleys for agriculture and strategic high ground that overlooked trade routes linking Phoenicia with the inland plateau. Its location explains both its economic value and the persistent Canaanite presence noted in Judges.

Biblical References

• Joshua 19:38 lists Beth Anath among the “nineteen cities, with their villages” assigned to Naphtali.
• Judges 1:33 records Naphtali’s incomplete conquest: “Naphtali failed to drive out the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh or Beth-anath; instead, they lived among the Canaanites in the land, but the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh and Beth-anath were forced laborers for them”.

Historical Background

The place-name points to the Canaanite goddess Anath, sister of Baal and patroness of war and fertility. Excavations in Galilee frequently uncover small bronze figurines and plaques of Anath, reflecting a vigorous cult late into the Iron Age. Beth Anath’s survival as a named center of this worship underscores how deeply entrenched the pagan culture remained in Galilee despite Israel’s settlement. The Judges account shows that Israel subjected the town economically but not spiritually, leaving a living enclave of idolatry inside covenant territory.

Theological Significance

1. Partial Obedience: Naphtali’s failure illustrates the peril of compromised conquest. Economic subjugation (forced labor) without spiritual purification fostered syncretism that later surfaced in the Northern Kingdom’s apostasy (for example, Hosea 4:17).
2. Divine Faithfulness: Although Israel faltered, God preserved His promises. The allotment in Joshua affirms that the land grant stood secure; the issue was Israel’s stewardship, not divine constancy.
3. Pictures of Spiritual Warfare: Beth Anath becomes a reminder that believers are called to decisive holiness, not negotiated coexistence with sin (compare Romans 6:12-13).

Archaeological and Extra-Biblical Notes

Late Bronze Age texts from Ugarit depict Anath as a formidable warrior-goddess. Her temples typically stood on elevated sites near springs—traits matching the high, well-watered ridge of Biʿna. Surface surveys reveal Iron Age pottery overlain by later Hellenistic material, suggesting continuous occupation but a diminution in prominence after the Assyrian campaigns of the eighth century B.C.

Ministry Applications

• Leadership: Like Naphtali, modern congregations risk settling for outward control (programs, budgets) without rooting out idols of the heart. Beth Anath urges pastors to shepherd toward wholehearted obedience.
• Discipleship: The name (“house of Anath”) challenges believers to ask what “houses” still harbor rival allegiances within their own lives.
• Mission: Beth Anath’s position on trade routes encourages churches to engage cultural crossroads rather than retreat, but with vigilance against assimilation.

Summary

Beth Anath stands as a small but incisive witness: a town named for a Canaanite deity located in covenant land, tolerated rather than transformed. Its brief biblical appearances expose the costs of incomplete obedience while magnifying God’s enduring commitment to His redemptive plan.

עֲנָ֔ת עֲנָ֖ת ענת ‘ă·nāṯ ‘ănāṯ aNatInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts