בֵּית־עֵ֫קֶד

# Beth-eked: A Biblical Place Name Beth-eked appears four times in the Hebrew Bible as a proper geographical location. The name itself combines two Hebrew elements: *bet* (house/place) and *eqed* (shearing), literally translating to "House of Shearing" or "Place of Shearing." This composition suggests the site was associated with sheep shearing operations, a common agricultural practice in ancient Palestine. The limited textual evidence—only four occurrences—indicates this was a specific, identifiable location rather than a generic term. Based solely on the lexicon data provided, we cannot determine the precise geographical coordinates or modern equivalent, nor can we detail the specific biblical narratives involving this site. What we can establish is that Beth-eked was significant enough to be named after its primary economic function, which was common in ancient Near Eastern toponymy. The Hebrew Bible's sparse references to Beth-eked suggest it held local or regional importance rather than serving as a major population center. Its name reflects the agrarian economy of ancient Israel, where sheep raising and wool production were essential industries, and such places were identified by their economic purpose.