Beth-shemesh

 •  1 min. read  •  grade level: 10
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1. A Levitical town on the north border of Judah, to where the ark was miraculously guided by God when sent back by the Philistines from Ekron, and where the people were smitten for looking into it. Here Amaziah king of Judah was defeated by Jehoash king of Israel. It was afterward occupied by the Philistines (Josh. 15:10; Josh. 21:16; 1 Sam. 6:9-20; 1 Kings 4:9; 2 Kings 14:11, 13; 1 Chron. 6:59; 2 Chron. 25:21, 23; 2 Chron. 28:18). Identified with Ain Shems, 31° 45’ N, 34° 59’ E.
2. Border town of Issachar (Josh. 19:22). Identified by some with Ain esh Shemsiyeh, 32° 24’ N, 35° 31’ E.
3. Fenced city of Naphtali (Josh. 19:38; Judg. 1:33).
4. Idolatrous temple in Egypt (Jer. 43:13). Supposed from its signification, “house of the sun,” to be the same as ON, or Heliopolis, associated with sun-worship.