House of nothingness; i.e., “of idols”, a place in the mountains of Benjamin, east of Bethel ([Josh. 7:2](/josh#Josh.7.2); [18:12](/josh#Josh.18.12); [1 Sam. 13:5](/1sam#1Sam.13.5)). In [Hos. 4:15](/hos#Hos.4.15); [5:8](/hos#Hos.5.8); [10:5](/hos#Hos.10.5) it stands for “Bethel” (q.v.), and it is so called because it was no longer the “house of God,” but “the house of idols,” referring to the calves there worshipped.