Meaning
Bethuel (1) be-thu'-el (bethu'el; "dweller in God"): A son of Nahor and Milcah, Abraham's nephew, father of Laban and Rebekah (Gen 22:23, Gen 24:15, Gen 24:24, Gen 24:47, Gen 24:50, Gen 25:20, Gen 28:2, Gen 28:5). In the last-named passage, he is surnamed "the Syrian." The only place where he appears as a leading character in the narrative is in connection with Rebekah's betrothal to Isaac; and even here, his son Laban stands out more prominently than he-a fact explainable on the ground of the custom which recognized the right of the brother to take a special interest in the welfare of the sister (compare Gen 34:5, Gen 34:21, Gen 34:25, 2Sa 13:20, 2Sa 13:22). Ant, I, xvi, 2 states that Bethuel was dead at this time.
Frank E. Hirsch
