Reference: Bethshemesh
Fausets
("house of the sun".)
1. A town on the N. boundary of Judah (Jos 15:10), itself low in situation. A "valley" of wheat fields is mentioned accordingly as nigh (1Sa 6:13). Now Ain Shems, on the N.W. slopes of the mountains of Judah, "a low plateau at the junction of two fine plains" (Robinson), two miles from the Philistian plain, and seven from Ekron. From the latter was the road to Bethshemesh, on which the Philistines sent back the ark to Israel after its fatal stay among them. In the field of Joshua the Bethshemite was "the great Abel" (the Septuagint reads Aben "stone"; others retaining Abel explain it "the stone of mourning," compare 1Sa 6:19) whereon the ark was set (1Sa 6:18). Providence fitly arranged that Bethshemesh being a priests' city (Jos 21:16; 1Ch 1:54) had Levites and priests ready on the spot duly to receive the ark and sacrifice before it.
Curiosity tempted many to stare at (not necessarily "into") the ark beneath the cover; compare Nu 4:20; 2Sa 6:6-7. So God smote in the proportion of 50 out of the 1,000, i.e. one twentieth instead of one tenth of the population, as sometimes; seventy men in all, out of the population of Bethshemesh, which amounted to 1,400 in this view. The numbers in the English Bible are evidently a mistake (1Sa 6:19). Josephus (Ant. 6:4) makes it only 70. It was one of Solomon's commissariat districts under Bendekar (margin 1Ki 4:9). Here Joash king of Israel encountered and made prisoner of Amaziah of Judah (2Ki 14:11-13; 2Ch 25:21-23). In Ahaz' reign the Philistines occupied Bethshemesh (2Ch 28:18.) Ir-shemesh was the older name (compare Jos 15:10; 19:41,43; 1Ki 4:9). Harcheres, "mount of the Sun." was another name for Bethshemesh (Jg 1:35.)
2. A city on Issachar's border (Jos 19:22).
3. A fenced city of Naphtali (Jos 19:38; Jg 1:33). The inhabitants were not expelled, but became Israel's tributaries.
4. An idol sanctuary in Egypt (Jer 43:13), the Greek Heliopolis, Egyptian On, E. of the Nile, a few miles N. of Memphis (Ge 41:45). The statue in honor of the sun rose to 60 cubits, the base was 10, above there was a miter a thousand pounds weight. These many towns of this name show how widespread the worship of the sun had been.
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Pharaoh gave Joseph the name Zaphenath-paneah and gave him a wife, Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest at On. And Joseph went throughout the land of Egypt.
Pharaoh gave Joseph the name Zaphenath-paneah and gave him a wife, Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest at On. And Joseph went throughout the land of Egypt.
The Kohathites are not to go in and look at the holy objects, even for a moment, or they will die."
The Kohathites are not to go in and look at the holy objects, even for a moment, or they will die."
The border turned westward from Baalah to Mount Seir, went to the northern slope of Mount Jearim (that is, Chesalon), descended to Beth-shemesh, and proceeded to Timnah.
The border turned westward from Baalah to Mount Seir, went to the northern slope of Mount Jearim (that is, Chesalon), descended to Beth-shemesh, and proceeded to Timnah.
The border turned westward from Baalah to Mount Seir, went to the northern slope of Mount Jearim (that is, Chesalon), descended to Beth-shemesh, and proceeded to Timnah.
The border turned westward from Baalah to Mount Seir, went to the northern slope of Mount Jearim (that is, Chesalon), descended to Beth-shemesh, and proceeded to Timnah.
The border reached Tabor, Shahazumah, and Beth-shemesh, and ended at the Jordan-16 cities, with their villages.
The border reached Tabor, Shahazumah, and Beth-shemesh, and ended at the Jordan-16 cities, with their villages.
Iron, Migdal-el, Horem, Beth-anath, and Beth-shemesh-19 cities, with their villages.
Iron, Migdal-el, Horem, Beth-anath, and Beth-shemesh-19 cities, with their villages.
Ain with its pasturelands, Juttah with its pasturelands, and Beth-shemesh with its pasturelands-nine cities from these two tribes.
Ain with its pasturelands, Juttah with its pasturelands, and Beth-shemesh with its pasturelands-nine cities from these two tribes.
Naphtali did not drive out the residents of Beth-shemesh or the residents of Beth-anath. They lived among the Canaanites who were living in the land, but the residents of Beth-shemesh and Beth-anath served as their forced labor.
Naphtali did not drive out the residents of Beth-shemesh or the residents of Beth-anath. They lived among the Canaanites who were living in the land, but the residents of Beth-shemesh and Beth-anath served as their forced labor.
The Amorites refused to leave Har-heres, Aijalon, and Shaalbim. When the house of Joseph got the upper hand, the Amorites were made to serve as forced labor.
The Amorites refused to leave Har-heres, Aijalon, and Shaalbim. When the house of Joseph got the upper hand, the Amorites were made to serve as forced labor.
The people of Beth-shemesh were harvesting wheat in the valley, and when they looked up and saw the ark, they were overjoyed to see it.
The people of Beth-shemesh were harvesting wheat in the valley, and when they looked up and saw the ark, they were overjoyed to see it.
The number of gold mice also [corresponded] to the number of Philistine cities of the five rulers, the fortified cities and the outlying villages. The large rock on which the ark of the Lord was placed is in the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh to this day.
The number of gold mice also [corresponded] to the number of Philistine cities of the five rulers, the fortified cities and the outlying villages. The large rock on which the ark of the Lord was placed is in the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh to this day. God struck down the men of Beth-shemesh because they looked inside the ark of the Lord.He struck down 70 men [out of] 50,000 men. The people wept because the Lord struck them with a great slaughter.
God struck down the men of Beth-shemesh because they looked inside the ark of the Lord.He struck down 70 men [out of] 50,000 men. The people wept because the Lord struck them with a great slaughter.
God struck down the men of Beth-shemesh because they looked inside the ark of the Lord.He struck down 70 men [out of] 50,000 men. The people wept because the Lord struck them with a great slaughter.
God struck down the men of Beth-shemesh because they looked inside the ark of the Lord.He struck down 70 men [out of] 50,000 men. The people wept because the Lord struck them with a great slaughter.
But Amaziah would not listen, so King Jehoash of Israel advanced. He and King Amaziah of Judah faced off at Beth-shemesh that belongs to Judah.
But Amaziah would not listen, so King Jehoash of Israel advanced. He and King Amaziah of Judah faced off at Beth-shemesh that belongs to Judah. Judah was routed before Israel, and [Judah's men] fled, each to his own tent.
Judah was routed before Israel, and [Judah's men] fled, each to his own tent. King Jehoash of Israel captured Judah's King Amaziah son of Joash, son of Ahaziah, at Beth-shemesh. Then Jehoash went to Jerusalem and broke down 200 yards of Jerusalem's wall from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate.
King Jehoash of Israel captured Judah's King Amaziah son of Joash, son of Ahaziah, at Beth-shemesh. Then Jehoash went to Jerusalem and broke down 200 yards of Jerusalem's wall from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate.
The Philistines also raided the cities of the Judean foothills and the Negev of Judah and captured Beth-shemesh, Aijalon, Gederoth, Soco and its villages, Timnah and its villages, Gimzo and its villages, and they lived there.
The Philistines also raided the cities of the Judean foothills and the Negev of Judah and captured Beth-shemesh, Aijalon, Gederoth, Soco and its villages, Timnah and its villages, Gimzo and its villages, and they lived there.
He will smash the sacred pillars of the sun temple in the land of Egypt and burn down the temples of the Egyptian gods."
He will smash the sacred pillars of the sun temple in the land of Egypt and burn down the temples of the Egyptian gods."
Morish
Beth-she'mesh
1. A Levitical town on the north border of Judah, whither 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 afterwards occupied by the Philistines. Jos 15:10; Joshua 21: 16; 1Sa 6:9-20; 1Ki 4:9; 2Ki 14:11,13; 1Ch 6:59; 2Ch 25:21,23; 28:18. Identified with Ain Shems, 31 45' N, 34 59' E.
2. Border town of Issachar, Jos 19:22. Identified by some with Ain esh Shemsiyeh, 32 24' N, 35 31' E.
3. Fenced city of Naphtali. Jos 19:38; Jg 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.
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The border turned westward from Baalah to Mount Seir, went to the northern slope of Mount Jearim (that is, Chesalon), descended to Beth-shemesh, and proceeded to Timnah.
The border reached Tabor, Shahazumah, and Beth-shemesh, and ended at the Jordan-16 cities, with their villages.
Iron, Migdal-el, Horem, Beth-anath, and Beth-shemesh-19 cities, with their villages.
Naphtali did not drive out the residents of Beth-shemesh or the residents of Beth-anath. They lived among the Canaanites who were living in the land, but the residents of Beth-shemesh and Beth-anath served as their forced labor.
Then watch: If it goes up the road to its homeland toward Beth-shemesh, it is the Lord who has made this terrible trouble for us. However, if it doesn't, we will know that it was not His hand that punished us-it was just something that happened to us by chance." The men did this: They took two milk cows, hitched them to the cart, and confined their calves in the pen. read more. Then they put the ark of the Lord on the cart, along with the box [containing] the gold mice and the images of the tumors. The cows went straight up the road to Beth-shemesh. They stayed on that one highway, lowing as they went; they never strayed to the right or to the left. The Philistine rulers were walking behind them to the territory of Beth-shemesh. The people of Beth-shemesh were harvesting wheat in the valley, and when they looked up and saw the ark, they were overjoyed to see it. The cart came to the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh and stopped there near a large rock. The people of the city chopped up the cart and offered the cows as a burnt offering to the Lord. The Levites removed the ark of the Lord, along with the box containing the gold objects, and placed them on the large rock. That day the men of Beth-shemesh offered burnt offerings and made sacrifices to the Lord. When the five Philistine rulers observed [this], they returned to Ekron that same day. As a guilt offering to the Lord, the Philistines had sent back one gold tumor for each city: Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron. The number of gold mice also [corresponded] to the number of Philistine cities of the five rulers, the fortified cities and the outlying villages. The large rock on which the ark of the Lord was placed is in the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh to this day. God struck down the men of Beth-shemesh because they looked inside the ark of the Lord.He struck down 70 men [out of] 50,000 men. The people wept because the Lord struck them with a great slaughter. The men of Beth-shemesh asked, "Who is able to stand in the presence of this holy Lord God? Who should the ark go to from here?"
He will smash the sacred pillars of the sun temple in the land of Egypt and burn down the temples of the Egyptian gods."
Smith
Beth-she'mesh
(house of the sun).
1. One of the towns which marked the north boundary of Judah.
It is now 'Ainshems, about two miles from the great Philistine plain, and seven from Ekron.
2. A city on the border of Issachar.
3. One of the "fenced cities" of Naphtali.
4. An idolatrous temple, or place in Egypt.
In the middle ages Heliopolis was still called by the Arabs Ain Shems.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
The border turned westward from Baalah to Mount Seir, went to the northern slope of Mount Jearim (that is, Chesalon), descended to Beth-shemesh, and proceeded to Timnah.
The border reached Tabor, Shahazumah, and Beth-shemesh, and ended at the Jordan-16 cities, with their villages.
Iron, Migdal-el, Horem, Beth-anath, and Beth-shemesh-19 cities, with their villages.
Naphtali did not drive out the residents of Beth-shemesh or the residents of Beth-anath. They lived among the Canaanites who were living in the land, but the residents of Beth-shemesh and Beth-anath served as their forced labor.
He will smash the sacred pillars of the sun temple in the land of Egypt and burn down the temples of the Egyptian gods."
Watsons
BETHSHEMESH, a city of the tribe of Judah, belonging to the priests, Jos 21:16. The Philistines having sent back the ark of the Lord, it was brought to Bethshemesh, 1Sa 6:12, where some of the people out of curiosity having looked into it, the Lord destroyed seventy of the principal men belonging to the city, and fifty thousand of the common people, verse 19. It is here to be observed that it was solemnly enjoined, Nu 4:20, that not only the common people but that even the Levites themselves should not dare to look into the ark, upon pain of death. "It is a fearful thing," says Bishop Hall, "to use the holy ordinances of God with an irreverent boldness; fear and trembling become us in our access to the majesty of the Almighty."
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The Kohathites are not to go in and look at the holy objects, even for a moment, or they will die."
Ain with its pasturelands, Juttah with its pasturelands, and Beth-shemesh with its pasturelands-nine cities from these two tribes.
The cows went straight up the road to Beth-shemesh. They stayed on that one highway, lowing as they went; they never strayed to the right or to the left. The Philistine rulers were walking behind them to the territory of Beth-shemesh.