Encyclopedia of The Bible – Birzaith, Birzavith
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Birzaith, Birzavith

BIRZAITH, BIRZAVITH bĭr zā’ əth, bĭr zā’ vĭth (בִרְזָֽיִת, qere; בִרְזﯴת, kethibh; meaning perhaps well of olives or olive oil; KJV BIRZAVITH). Son of Malchiel and great-grandson of Asher (1 Chron 7:31). Modern Bir-Zeit, about thirteen m. N of Jerusalem, may have been named from him or populated by his offspring; or, possibly Birzaith was not a person, but a town founded by Malchiel. According to some this is to be identified with Berzetho, the village where Judas Maccabeus pitched his last camp (Jos. Antiq. XII. xi. 1).