Aven

A term used by the prophet Ezekiel to describe the city of On, which is also called Heliopolis. On was the center of worship of the Egyptian sun god Ra (Ezekiel 30:17). The Hebrew word aven (“wickedness”) was similar to the name On. It was used in a prophecy against the idolatry and wickedness of Egypt.

See Heliopolis.

A description of Bethel (Hosea 10:8), shortened from Beth-aven, “house of wickedness” (Hosea 4:15; 5:8; 10:5). The prophet Hosea was criticizing the northern kingdom’s idolatry. Bethel was a center of idolatry in the north (1 Kings 12:28–29).

See Beth-aven #2.

A valley where Syria was going to be punished because of its crimes against the Lord (Amos 1:5). It might be a vague reference to Baalbek, the center of Syria’s Baal worship in the Beqa’a valley.