[Update Feburary 5th 2025: This theory is defunct since I now know the name of Betharabah points to the Arabah plain in the east. Also the Archeology for Betar only goes back to the 700s BC so indeed probably isn't in Joshua 15. Rather it could be one of the cities built in the Mountains of Judah by King Jotham in 2 Chronicles 27:4, or perhaps have it's roots in Uzziah's projects from 26:10. Based on what The Talmud says it seems Betar was a name given to this city because of The Bar-Kochba Revolt.]
Betar is an Ancient Israelite City located near the modern settlements of Battir and Beitar Illit most famous for having been the main base of operation of Simon Bar-Kochba during the Bar-Kochba Revolt.
Its Wikipedia Page talks about how there is archaeological evidence of its existence during the Iron Age yet says it isn’t mentioned in The Masoretic Text of the Hebrew Bible only specifically the Sinaitic Text of the Septuagint for Joshua 15:59a.
However The Masoretic Text and thus The King James Bible do mention a city in Joshua 15 and 18 who’s name can easily have been later shortened to Betar, Betharabah.
In Joshua 15:6 it is associated with the border of the land allotted to Judah, and then in Joshua 15:61 it’s described as being in a “Wilderness” right after talking about Kirjathjearim. But the name is also given to a Benjamite city in Joshua 18:22.
Betar’s location can be described as both between Kirjathjearim and Jerusalem and as between Kirjathjearim and Bethlehem. So it is in a good place for being associated with both Benjamin and Judah.
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