BETHLEPTEPHA
BETHLEPTEPHA (
τοπαρχία Βεθλεπτηφῶν), one of the ten toparchies of Judaea proper, the Bethleptephene of Pliny (
5.14).
It was apparently situated in the south of Judaea, and in that part which is commonly called Idumaea by Josephus (
B. J. 4.8.1). Reland has remarked that the name resembles Beth-Lebaoth, a city of the tribe of Simeon (
Josh. 19.6), and the situation equally corresponds.
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G.W]