Beth-le-aphrah

Beth-le-aphrah ("house of dust") was a Judean town named in Micah's great lament of judgment (Micah 1:10): "Declare ye it not at Gath, weep ye not at all: in the house of Aphrah roll thyself in the dust." The prophet plays on the town's name to underscore his message — the inhabitants of "house of dust" must literally roll in dust in mourning for the coming destruction. The verse opens a sustained tour de force in Micah 1:10-16 of place-name puns covering ten Judean Shephelah towns. The exact site of Beth-le-aphrah is uncertain.