Charles Ellicott Commentary Judges 1:23

"And the house of Joseph sent to spy out Beth-el. (Now the name of the city beforetime was Luz.)" — Judges 1:23 (ASV)

To descry Beth-el. — The word perhaps implies a regular siege, and it is so understood by the Septuagint (Codex Alexandrinus) and the Vulgate.

Luz. — We are also told that this was the original name of the city in Genesis 28:19; but there seems to be in that verse a distinction between the city and the place of Jacob’s dream. (Compare to Joshua 16:2.) The name means either “hazel,” or “sinking,” that is, a valley depression.