Lexical Definition

‎בֵּית שֶׁמֶשׁ‎ Bêyth Shemesh (bayth sheh'-mesh) Beth-shemesh ^N:N--L
from ‎בַּיִת‎ and ‎שֶׁמֶשׁ‎; house of (the) sun

Beth-shemesh.

• § Beth-shemesh = "house of the sun" or "sun-temple"
• Beth-Shemesh, a place in Palestine

1) a town in southwest Judah
2) a town in Naphtali
3) a town in Issachar
4) a town in Egypt

Brown-Driver-Briggs

‎בֵּית שֶׁ֫מֶשׁ‎ proper name, of a location (sun-temple) — ‎׳‎‎שׁ‎ ‎׳‎‎בּ‎ Josh 19:22 + 8 t., ‎׳‎‎שֿׁ‎‎׳‎‎בּ‎ Josh 15:10 + 6 t.; ‎שָׁ֑מֶשׁ‎ ‎׳‎‎בּ‎ Josh 19:38 + 4 t.; —

1. city in southwest Judah Josh 15:10; 1Sam 6:9; 1Sam 6:12 (twice in verse); 1Sam 6:13; 1Sam 6:15; 1Sam 6:19; 1Sam 6:20; 1Kgs 4:9; 2Kgs 14:13 = 2Chr 25:23; 2Chr 28:18 distinguished from other places of same name as ‎אֲשֶׁר לִיהוּדָה‎ ‎׳‎‎שׁ‎ ‎׳‎‎בּ‎ 2Kgs 14:11 = 2Chr 25:21 assigned to Levites Josh 21:16 = 1Chr 6:44* — ruin at modern `Ain Shems Rob^{BR ii. 223 f.} Bd^{Pal 163} Survey^{iii. 35, 60.}

2. city in Naphtali Josh 19:38; Judg 1:33 (twice in verse)

3. city in Issachar Josh 19:22 possibly `Ain esh-Shemsîyeh, Jordan valley, south of Beisân (Beth Shean) Survey^{ii. 231.}

4. = On-Heliopolis, in Egypt Jer 43:13 Rob^{BR i. 25} Eb^{GS 505 f.} Dl^{Pa 318 f}.

Brown-Driver-Briggs References

Profile

Beth-shemesh_1 • City in Judah, associated with the Ark's return.

Beth-shemesh was a city allotted to Judah and the Levites, associated with the return of the Ark of the Covenant from the Philistines. (Multiple references, see article for details)

• A location first mentioned at Jos.15.10;
• referred to as Beth-shemesh בֵּית שֶׁמֶשׁ, or Beth-shemesh (NIV= Beth Shemesh) בֵּית הַשִּׁמְשִׁי, or Ir-shemesh (NIV= Ir Shemesh) עִיר שֶׁמֶשׁ, or (Mount )Heres חֶרֶס.
  

Beth-shemesh, meaning "house of the sun" in Hebrew, was a city located in the Shephelah region, the western foothills of Judah. It was allotted to the tribe of Judah (Joshua 15:10) and later given to the Levites of the family of Aaron (Joshua 21:16; 1 Chronicles 6:59).

Beth-shemesh is primarily known for its association with the return of the Ark of the Covenant from the Philistines (1 Samuel 6). After the Ark had been captured by the Philistines, they sent it back on a cart, guided by two milk cows. The cows miraculously went straight to Beth-shemesh, where the people were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley (1 Samuel 6:9, 12-13).

The men of Beth-shemesh rejoiced when they saw the Ark, offering the cows as a burnt offering and sacrificing to the Lord (1 Samuel 6:14-15). However, some of the men looked inside the Ark, and as a result, God struck down 70 men (some manuscripts say 50,070) for their irreverence (1 Samuel 6:19-20).

During the reign of King Solomon, Beth-shemesh was included in the second administrative district overseen by Ben-Deker (1 Kings 4:9).

Later, during the reign of King Amaziah of Judah, a battle took place between Amaziah and King Jehoash of Israel at Beth-shemesh. Amaziah was defeated and captured by Jehoash, who then proceeded to break down a section of the wall of Jerusalem (2 Kings 14:11-13; 2 Chronicles 25:21-23).

In the time of King Ahaz of Judah, the Philistines invaded the cities of the Shephelah, including Beth-shemesh, capturing and occupying them (2 Chronicles 28:18).

The city of Beth-shemesh is also mentioned in Judges 1:35, where it is stated that the Amorites persisted in dwelling in Mount Heres, Aijalon, and Shaalbim, but the hand of the house of Joseph rested heavily on them, and they became subject to forced labor. Mount Heres, meaning "mount of the sun," is likely another name for Beth-shemesh or the hill on which it was located.

All entries for Beth-shemesh or Heres Mount: בֵּית שֶׁמֶשׁ ☩ בֵּית הַשִּׁמְשִׁי ☩ עִיר שֶׁמֶשׁ ☩ חֶרֶס