a city of Bashan, in the kingdom of Og ( Deuteronomy 1:4 ; Joshua 12:4 ; 13:12 ; 9:10 ). It was in the half-tribe of Manasseh ( Joshua 13:12 ), and as a Levitical city was given to the Gershonites ( 1 Chronicles 6:71 ). Uzzia, one of David's valiant men ( 1 Chronicles 11:44 ), is named as of this city. It is identified with Tell Ashterah, in the Hauran, and is noticed on monuments B.C. 1700-1500. The name Beesh-terah ( Joshua 21:27 ) is a contraction for Beth-eshterah, i.e., "the house of Ashtaroth."

These dictionary topics are from
M.G. Easton M.A., D.D., Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition,
published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain, copy freely.