BETH-HORON
Twin cities of Efraín, 3 km apart from each other, and with a height difference of 190 meters, called “the high one” and “the low one”, respectively. They commanded a very strategic defile, and were fortified by Solomon (2 Chron. 8:5).
The military leaders especially reinforced the walls of Upper Beth-horon, because it had the key position (1 Kings 9:17; 1 Chron. 9:50). Wars raged in this place. The Amorites fled before Joshua through this defile (Josh. 10:10 ff.). The Philistines took them to fight Saul (1 Kings 13:18).
Judas Maccabeus fought two battles there (1 Maccabees 3:15ff; 7:39). The army of Cestius Gallius, governor of Syria, was almost annihilated at this place by the Jews (Josephus, Wars 2:19, 8).
These two towns continue to exist, with the names of “et-Takta” and “et-Foka”, with the name of “Bet Ur” for the whole, 31° 53′ N, 35° 6′ and 5′ E.