A town and cult center in the territory of Ephraim, near the border of Benjamin; normally referred to as Bethel or Beth-Aven. It is probably a pun featuring the meaning of אָוֶן "evil, iniquity" because of the idolatry that was practiced in this town.
About Aven
A description of Bethel (Hosea 10:8), shortened from Beth-aven, “house of wickedness” (Hosea 4:15; 5:8; 10:5). The prophet Hosea was criticizing the northern kingdom’s idolatry. Bethel was a center of idolatry in the north (1 Kings 12:28–29).
See Beth-aven #2.
Key References
The high places of Aven will be destroyed—it is the sin of Israel; thorns and thistles will overgrow their altars. Then they will say to the mountains, “Cover us!” and to the hills, “Fall on us!”
All Scripture References (1)
Hosea (1)
The high places of Aven will be destroyed—it is the sin of Israel; thorns and thistles will overgrow their altars. Then they will say to the mountains, “Cover us!” and to the hills, “Fall on us!”