Beth-Shemesh

Bethshemesh is best remembered as the town where the ark of the LORD came home. In 1 Samuel 6:15 the Levites lift it down, and the men of the town offer burnt offerings and sacrifices to the LORD that same day. Later, in 2 Kings 14:11-13, the kings of Israel and Judah face each other there; Judah is “put to the worse,” and Jerusalem’s wall is broken down. Joshua also lists the town among cities with their suburbs. Jeremiah 43:13 names another Bethshemesh, in the land of Egypt, so the name belonged to more than one place.

8 verses

Joshua

Joshua 15:10

And the border compassed from Baalah westward unto mount Seir, and passed along unto the side of mount Jearim, which is Chesalon, on the north side, and went down to Bethshemesh, and passed on to Timnah:

Joshua 19:38

And Iron, and Migdalel, Horem, and Bethanath, and Bethshemesh; nineteen cities with their villages.

Joshua 21:16

And Ain with her suburbs, and Juttah with her suburbs, and Bethshemesh with her suburbs; nine cities out of those two tribes.

1 Samuel

1 Samuel 6:15

And the Levites took down the ark of the LORD, and the coffer that was with it, wherein the jewels of gold were, and put them on the great stone: and the men of Bethshemesh offered burnt offerings and sacrificed sacrifices the same day unto the LORD.

2 Kings

2 Kings 14:11

But Amaziah would not hear. Therefore Jehoash king of Israel went up; and he and Amaziah king of Judah looked one another in the face at Bethshemesh, which belongeth to Judah.

2 Kings 14:12

And Judah was put to the worse before Israel; and they fled every man to their tents.

2 Kings 14:13

And Jehoash king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Jehoash the son of Ahaziah, at Bethshemesh, and came to Jerusalem, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim unto the corner gate, four hundred cubits.

Jeremiah

Jeremiah 43:13

He shall break also the images of Bethshemesh, that is in the land of Egypt; and the houses of the gods of the Egyptians shall he burn with fire.

From Easton's Bible Dictionary

Matthew George Easton, 1897

House of the sun. (1.) A sacerdotal city in the tribe of Dan (Josh. 21:16; 1 Sam. 6:15), on the north border of Judah (Josh. 15:10). It was the scene of an encounter between Jehoash, king of Israel, and Amaziah, king of Judah, in which the latter was made prisoner (2 Kings 14:11, 13). It was afterwards taken by the Philistines (2 Chr. 28:18). It is the modern ruined Arabic village ‘Ain-shems, on the north-west slopes of the mountains of Judah, 14 miles west of Jerusalem.

(2.) A city between Dothan and the Jordan, near the southern border of Issachar (Josh. 19:22), 7 1/2 miles south of Beth-shean. It is the modern Ain-esh-Shemsiyeh.

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(3.) One of the fenced cities of Naphtali (Josh. 19:38), between Mount Tabor and the Jordan. Now Khurbet Shema, 3 miles west of Safed. But perhaps the same as No. 2.

(4.) An idol sanctuary in Egypt (Jer. 43:13); called by the Greeks Heliopolis, and by the Egyptians On (q.v.), Gen. 41:45.

From Smith's Bible Dictionary

William Smith, 1884

(house of the sun).

(1.) One of the towns which marked the north boundary of Judah. (Joshua 15:10) It is now “Ainshems , about two miles from the great Philistine plain, and seven from Ekron.

(2.) A city on the border of Issachar. (Joshua 19:22)

(3.) One of the "fenced cities" of Naphtali. (Joshua 19:38; Judges 1:33)

(4.) An idolatrous temple, or place in Egypt. (Jeremiah 43:13) In the middle ages Heliopolis was still called by the Arabs Ain Shems .