And the house of Joseph sent to descry Bethel. (Now the name of the city before was Luz.)

And the house of Joseph sent to spy out Beth-el. (Now the name of the city beforetime was Luz.)

For when they were besieging the city, which before was called Luza,

And the house of Joseph sent to explore Beth-el. Now the name of the city before was Luz.

and the house of Joseph cause men to spy about Beth-El (and the name of the city formerly is Luz),

So they sent men to make a search round Beth-el. (Now the name of the town in earlier times was Luz.)

For when they were besieging the city, which was previously called Luz,

Beth-el - the name of the city before was Luz - Concerning this city and its names, see the notes on Genesis 28:19.

And the house of Joseph sent to descry Bethel,.... To reconnoitre the place, to observe its passes and avenues, which were most accessible, and to examine the walls of it, where they were weakest and least defended:
now the name of the city before was Luz; which signifies a "nut"; perhaps it was so called from large numbers of nut trees which grew near it; the Jews suggest as if it was like a nut, no entrance into it but through a cave or some subterraneous passage, see Genesis 28:19.