The Hebrew word Bithrôwn, represented by H1338, refers to a specific geographical location. Its base definition is "the craggy spot," identifying Bithron as a place located East of the Jordan. It appears only 1 time in a single verse in the entire Bible.
The sole appearance of Bithrôwn H1338 is in the historical narrative of Abner's retreat. After a conflict, Abner H74 and his men H582 traveled all night, crossing the Jordan River H3383 and passing through "all Bithron" on their way to the city of Mahanaim H4266, as recorded in 2 Samuel 2:29. This context places Bithrôwn as a region or landmark on a key travel route east of the Jordan.
The context of Bithrôwn's single mention is a journey, and several related words define the key elements of this passage:
- H4266 Machănayim (Mahanaim): The destination of Abner and his men, its name means "double camp" and it was a significant place in Palestine 2 Samuel 2:29.
- H3383 Yardên (Jordan): The principal river of Palestine, defined as "a descender," which Abner's party passed over to reach Bithron 2 Samuel 2:29.
- H5674 ʻâbar (passed over): A primitive root meaning "to cross over," describing the action of traversing the Jordan River 2 Samuel 2:29.
- H6160 ʻărâbâh (plain): This term describes the terrain they walked through, specifically the "sterile valley of the Jordan" 2 Samuel 2:29.
- H1980 hâlak (walked): A root word for walking, used literally here to describe the all-night march of Abner's men 2 Samuel 2:29.
As a location mentioned only once, the significance of Bithrôwn is primarily geographical and historical.
- A Landmark of Retreat: Its mention in 2 Samuel 2:29 serves to map the specific route taken by Abner H74 and his men H582 as they traveled to the safety of Mahanaim H4266.
- East of the Jordan: The passage clearly situates Bithrôwn as a territory east of the Jordan H3383, which the men passed over H5674 during their journey.
- Rugged Terrain: The name itself, meaning "the craggy spot," suggests a distinctive, possibly difficult landscape that was notable enough to be recorded as part of their all-night trek.
In summary, Bithrôwn H1338 is a geographical term rather than a theological concept. It appears just once in scripture to denote "the craggy spot," a region east of the Jordan River. Its sole function is to add detail to the account of Abner's flight to Mahanaim, anchoring the event in a specific, identifiable landscape and illustrating the historical precision within the biblical narrative.
TRV