Lexical Summary Beth-azmaveth: Beth-azmaveth Original Word: בֵּית עַזְמָוֶת Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Beth-az-maveth From bayith and Azmaveth; house of Azmaveth, a place in Palestine -- Beth-az-maveth. Compare Azmaveth. see HEBREW bayith see HEBREW Azmaveth see HEBREW Azmaveth NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom bayith and Azmaveth Definition "house of Azmaveth," a place near Jer. NASB Translation Beth-azmaveth (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs בֵּיתעַֿזְמָ֫וֶת proper name, of a location near Jerusalem Nehemiah 7:28 = עַזְמָ֫וֶת Ezra 2:24 & עַזְמָ֑וֶת Nehemiah 12:29; compare 1 Chronicles 12:13 (where proper name, masculine); — modern El-„izmeh approximately 5 miles north-northeast of Jerusalem according to RitterGeogr. xvi. 519 Surveyiii. 9. Topical Lexicon Geographical setting Beth Azmaveth stood in the tribal territory of Benjamin, a short distance northeast of Jerusalem in the Judean hill country. Most scholars associate it with the modern village of Hizmeh, located on a ridge that commands the main north-south approach to the Holy City. The site overlooks the route from Jericho to Jerusalem, providing both strategic value and ready access to the capital’s markets and temple. Biblical usage The name is recorded explicitly in Nehemiah 7:28, in the census of returnees from Babylon: “the men of Beth-Azmaveth, forty-two”. Although this is its only occurrence in that precise form, the shortened place-name “Azmaveth” appears in Nehemiah 12:29 among villages where temple singers settled after the wall-building project. The related personal name “Azmaveth” also appears several times (1 Chronicles 8:36; 27:25; 2 Samuel 23:31), suggesting that the location may have originated as a family estate that grew into a community. Historical context and return from exile The list in Nehemiah 7 mirrors Ezra 2 and records the families who responded to the decree of Cyrus and returned to re-establish Jewish life in the land promised to Abraham. Beth Azmaveth contributes a modest number—forty-two men—but its inclusion underscores the completeness of God’s restoration. Small villages as well as major towns were represented, demonstrating that the remnant was not defined by size but by covenant loyalty. The men of Beth Azmaveth would have participated in rebuilding Jerusalem’s wall, reinstituting worship, and renewing the covenant (Nehemiah 8–10). Theological and ministry insights 1. God values every community. Even the inhabitants of an obscure village are recorded in Scripture, reminding believers that their labor in the Lord is never insignificant (1 Corinthians 15:58). Archaeological and modern identification Pottery surveys at Hizmeh reveal Iron Age and Persian-period occupation, aligning with the biblical timeline. The site’s topography fits Benjaminite settlement patterns mentioned in Joshua 18. Although definitive inscriptional proof is lacking, the convergence of geographic, chronological, and cultural data strongly favors the identification. Related references Nehemiah 7:6-73 – Register of returnees (Beth Azmaveth in verse 28) Nehemiah 12:27-29 – Dedication of the wall (Azmaveth among singers’ villages) 1 Chronicles 27:25 – Azmaveth son of Adiel, royal treasurer 2 Samuel 23:31 – Azmaveth among David’s mighty men These additional texts link the place-name to faithful service and administrative responsibility, themes consistent with the village’s contribution to post-exilic restoration. Forms and Transliterations עַזְמָ֖וֶת עזמות ‘az·mā·weṯ ‘azmāweṯ azMavetLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Nehemiah 7:28 HEB: אַנְשֵׁ֥י בֵית־ עַזְמָ֖וֶת אַרְבָּעִ֥ים וּשְׁנָֽיִם׃ NAS: the men of Beth-azmaveth, 42; KJV: The men of Bethazmaveth, forty INT: he Bethazmaveth forty and two 1 Occurrence |
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