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The Ba'er Hetev is a commentary on the four sections of the Shulchan Aruch, primarily authored by Rabbi Yehudah Ashkenazi, a dayan (judge) in Tykocin, who wrote on the sections Orach Chayim and Even Ha'ezer. It was completed by Rabbi Zechariah Mendel of Belz, who wrote on the sections Choshen Mishpat and Yoreh De'ah.
Since its first printing in 1742 ( תק"ב), the commentary has become widely distributed and is now printed in all editions of the Shulchan Aruch.
The work was intended as an extension to an earlier work of the same name by Rabbi Yeshayahu ben Avraham, which summarized the rulings found in the Magen Avraham and Taz. That earlier version was well-received and widely used among Jewish communities. However, due to the author's financial constraints, it was printed in a very condensed format. Rabbi Yehudah of Tykocin then authored his version as an expanded continuation of the original Ba'er Hetev, which is no longer extant, possibly due to Rabbi Yehudah's more comprehensive work. Rabbi Yehudah also included rulings from various responsa and additional halachic works.
Over the generations, various scholars have annotated the Ba'er Hetev, although these were adjusted in new and revised editions of the Shulchan Aruch.
Due to the commentary's significance, the Chafetz Chaim chose to print it alongside the Mishnah Berurah, along with Sha'arei Teshuvah, which he cited extensively in his notes.