Beth-gader

Beth-gader is a place in the territory of Judah, named once in the Calebite genealogy of Chronicles. The same town is probably to be identified with the Geder of Joshua's conquest list and the Gedor of the Judahite town-list.

A Calebite Settlement in Judah

The place enters the record through its founder in the Chronicler's genealogy of Caleb. "Salma the father of Beth-lehem, Hareph the father of Beth-gader" (1Chr 2:51). The phrasing pairs Beth-gader with Bethlehem under brother-founders, locating it in the Calebite zone of southern Judah.

Probably Geder and Gedor

The conquest list of defeated Canaanite kings names a Geder that sits comfortably in the same orbit. "The king of Debir, one; the king of Geder, one" (Josh 12:13). The Judahite town-list, in turn, includes a Gedor among the hill-country towns. "Halhul, Beth-zur, and Gedor" (Josh 15:58). The names Geder, Gedor, and Beth-gader cluster in Judah and likely refer to the same settlement under variant forms.