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BETHEL

An ancient Canaanite town, formerly called Luz, located some twelve miles from Jerusalem. It was the place where Jacob had his vision of the ladder, and where the Israelites "consulted God" (Judges 21). The Ark of the Covenant was probably kept there for a time. From the Hebrew Beth'el, House of God.

All items in this dictionary are from Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission.

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