Original Word: בְּעֶשְׁתְּרָה
Part of Speech: Proper Name Location
Transliteration: B`eshtrah
Pronunciation: beh-esh-te-RAH
Phonetic Spelling: (beh-esh-ter-aw')
KJV: Beeshterah
NASB: Be-eshterah
Word Origin: [from H6251 (עַשׁתְּרָה - young) (as singular of H6252 (עַשׁתָּרוֹת עַשׁתָּרוֹת - Ashtaroth)) with a prepositional prefix]

1. with Ashtoreth
2. Beeshterah, a place East of the Jordan

Beeshterah

From ashtrah (as singular of Ashtarowth) with a prepositional prefix; with Ashtoreth; Beeshterah, a place East of the Jordan -- Beeshterah.

see HEBREW ashtrah

see HEBREW Ashtarowth

Word Origin
perhaps from bayith and Ashtoreth
Definition
perhaps "house of Ashtoreth," a Levitical city in Manasseh
NASB Translation
Be-eshterah (1).

בְּעֶשְׁתְּרָה proper name, of a location (? = בֵּית עשׁתרה = house of Ashtoreth, compare below בית) a Levitical city in Manasseh Joshua 21:27; = עַשְׁתָּרוֺת 1 Chronicles 6:56

Geographic Setting

Situated in the fertile highlands of Bashan east of the Jordan River, Beeshterah lay within the territory assigned to the half-tribe of Manasseh (see Joshua 13:29-31). Bashan’s basaltic tableland, ample rainfall, and rich pastures made it an ideal region for cattle (Deuteronomy 32:14; Amos 4:1). Ancient extrabiblical texts connect the locale with “Ashtaroth,” indicating a long-standing population center that Israel later occupied. Archaeological surveys locate the probable site near modern Tell Ashtarah (Ashtarah) in southern Syria, about 25 kilometers southeast of the Golan heights.

Biblical Occurrence

The name appears only once:

“From the half-tribe of Manasseh they gave the Gershonites: Golan in Bashan, a city of refuge for the manslayer, and Beeshterah—two cities.” (Joshua 21:27)

Historical Context

1. Allocation to the Levites: Following the conquest, the land was divided among the tribes, and forty-eight cities were designated for Levi (Numbers 35:2-7). By giving Beeshterah to the Gershonite branch, Israel ensured that every region—north, south, east, and west—had priests and teachers of the Law.
2. Association with Golan: Beeshterah’s pairing with Golan—a City of Refuge—links it to Israel’s judicial system of mercy (Numbers 35:9-15). Those fleeing accidental manslaughter would pass through or near Beeshterah en route to Golan, exposing residents to poignant lessons of grace and justice.
3. Continuity of occupation: While Canaanite worship of the goddess Ashtoreth once dominated the area (Judges 2:13), the Lord repurposed the place for His servants. The transformation underscores His sovereign ability to reclaim territories formerly devoted to idolatry for holy service.

Levitical Ministry Significance

• Teaching the Law: Levi’s charge was to “teach Your ordinances to Jacob and Your law to Israel” (Deuteronomy 33:10). Positioned in Bashan, the Gershonites of Beeshterah instructed pastoral communities and travelers along trans-Jordan trade routes.
• Spherical influence: Beeshterah’s vicinity to Golan meant Levites often adjudicated preliminary asylum claims, modeling impartiality (Deuteronomy 19:3).
• Worship leadership: Through daily sacrifices and festival gatherings in surrounding towns, Gershonites preserved orthodox worship amid an area once devoted to fertility cults.

Theological Themes

1. Redemption of Space: Land once surrendered to false deities becomes a platform for the proclamation of Yahweh’s covenant (Psalm 24:1).
2. Presence of God among His People: Levitical cities—Beeshterah included—illustrate the Lord’s desire to embed spiritual guidance within every tribal inheritance (Joshua 21:41).
3. Mercy and Justice Interwoven: Proximity to a City of Refuge typifies the balance of holiness and compassion fulfilled ultimately in Jesus Christ, our great High Priest (Hebrews 6:18-20).

Lessons for Today

• God strategically places His servants where truth is most needed; even a seemingly obscure village like Beeshterah plays a vital role in the spiritual life of a nation.
• Believers may reclaim cultural spaces formerly dominated by ungodliness and dedicate them to the Lord’s service.
• The pairing of Beeshterah with Golan invites contemporary churches to uphold both doctrinal teaching and ministries of mercy, reflecting the full character of God.

בְּעֶשְׁתְּרָ֖ה בעשתרה bə‘eštərāh bə·‘eš·tə·rāh beeshteRahInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts