BETH-PEOR bĕth pe’ ôr (בֵּ֣ית פְּעֹ֑ור, [or more prob. beyt pegôr, the ’ayin standing for ghayin] LXX Josh 13:20 Βαιθφογωρ; Deut 34:6 οἶκος Φογωρ; house of Peor). A city of Moab which was assigned to the tribe of Reuben (Josh 13:20). Before entering the Land of Canaan the Israelites encamped in the valley opposite Beth-peor while Moses viewed the Promised Land from the top of Mount Pisgah (Deut 3:29). Here Moses committed certain laws to them (Deut 4:46). This is the valley where God buried Moses (34:6). Beth-peor was likely the place where Baal-peor was worshiped as patron deity (Num 25:3, 5, 18). It is identified with Khirbet esh-Sheikh-Jayil N of Mount Nebo and W of Hesbon.

As for the meaning of Peor (פְּעֹ֑ור). It has been explained as “Opening” or “Chasm,” coming from a root appearing in Arab. as faġara “open wide, gape.” The Syr. cognate (p’râ) means “a chasm.”