Berite
Be'rite (Heb. only in the plur., and with the art., hab-Berim', הִבֵּרִים, derivation uncertain [Gesenius and Furst both overlook the word altogether], if indeed the text be not corrupt; Sept. ἐν Χαῤῥί, but most copies omit), a tribe or place named with Abel of Bethmaachah-and therefore doubtless situated in the north of Palestine-only as having been visited by Joab in his pursuit after Sheba, the son of Bichri (2Sa 20:14). The expression is a remarkable one, "all the Berites" (comp. "all the Bithron"). The Vulgate has a different rendering-omnes viri elect — apparently for בִּחֻרִים, i.e. young men, and this is, in Ewald's opinion, the correct reading (Isr. Gesch. 3, 249, note). Schwarz, however, is inclined to regard it as a collective term for several places of similar name mentioned in Josephus and the Talmud as lying in the vicinity of Lake Merom (Palest. p. 203); and Thomson (Land and Book, 1, 425) conjectures that it may specially designate the Beroth (Βηρώθη) of Upper Galilee, where. according to Josephus (Ant. 5, 1, 18), the Canaanitish kings encamped against Joshua (comp. Jos 11:5), and which he identifies with Biria, a short distance north of Safed (Van de Velde, Map).
