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.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And Pharaoh will call Joseph's name Zaphnath-paaneah; and he will give to him Asenath, daughter of PotiPherah, priest of Ain, for a wife; and Joseph will go forth over the land of Egypt
And Pharaoh will call Joseph's name Zaphnath-paaneah; and he will give to him Asenath, daughter of PotiPherah, priest of Ain, for a wife; and Joseph will go forth over the land of Egypt
And they shall not go in to see for a moment's time the holy place, and die.
And they shall not go in to see for a moment's time the holy place, and die.
And the bound encompassed from Baalah to the sea to mount Seir, and passed over to the shoulder of Jearim from the north (this is Chesalon) and it went down to the House of the Sun, and passed over to Timnah:
And the bound encompassed from Baalah to the sea to mount Seir, and passed over to the shoulder of Jearim from the north (this is Chesalon) and it went down to the House of the Sun, and passed over to Timnah:
And the bound encompassed from Baalah to the sea to mount Seir, and passed over to the shoulder of Jearim from the north (this is Chesalon) and it went down to the House of the Sun, and passed over to Timnah:
And the bound encompassed from Baalah to the sea to mount Seir, and passed over to the shoulder of Jearim from the north (this is Chesalon) and it went down to the House of the Sun, and passed over to Timnah:
And the bound struck upon Tabor, and Shahazimah, and the House of the Sun; and the outgoings of their bounds were Jordan: sixteen cities and their enclosures.
And the bound struck upon Tabor, and Shahazimah, and the House of the Sun; and the outgoings of their bounds were Jordan: sixteen cities and their enclosures.
And Iron, and Migdol-El, Ho-rem, and the Mouse of Affliction, and the House of the Sun; nineteen cities and their enclosures.
And Iron, and Migdol-El, Ho-rem, and the Mouse of Affliction, and the House of the Sun; nineteen cities and their enclosures.
And the bound of their inheitance will be Zorah and Eshtaol, and the city of the Sun,
And the bound of their inheitance will be Zorah and Eshtaol, and the city of the Sun,
And Ain and her area, and Juttah and her area, and the House of the Sun and her area: nine cities from these two tribes.
And Ain and her area, and Juttah and her area, and the House of the Sun and her area: nine cities from these two tribes.
Naphtali drove not out the inhabitants of the House of the Sun, and the inhabitants of the House of Affliction; and he dwelt in the midst of the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land; and the inhabitants of the House of the Sun, and of the House of Response, they were to them for tribute.
Naphtali drove not out the inhabitants of the House of the Sun, and the inhabitants of the House of Affliction; and he dwelt in the midst of the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land; and the inhabitants of the House of the Sun, and of the House of Response, they were to them for tribute.
And the Amorite willed to dwell in mount Heres and in Ajalon, and in Shaalbim: and the hand of the house of Joseph will be heavy, and they will be for tribute
And the Amorite willed to dwell in mount Heres and in Ajalon, and in Shaalbim: and the hand of the house of Joseph will be heavy, and they will be for tribute
And the House of the Sun reaping the harvest of wheat in the valley: and they will lift up their eyes and see the ark, and they will rejoice to see.
And the House of the Sun reaping the harvest of wheat in the valley: and they will lift up their eyes and see the ark, and they will rejoice to see.
And the mice of gold, the number of all the cities of Philisteim, to the five princes from the fortified city, even to the village of the countryman, and even to the great meadow which they put upon it the ark of Jehovah, even to this day in the field of Joshua of the House of the Sun.
And the mice of gold, the number of all the cities of Philisteim, to the five princes from the fortified city, even to the village of the countryman, and even to the great meadow which they put upon it the ark of Jehovah, even to this day in the field of Joshua of the House of the Sun. And he will strike upon the men of the House of the Sun, for they saw in the ark of Jehovah, and he will strike upon the people seventy men, and fifty thousand men: and the people will mourn because Jehovah smote among the people a great smiting.
And he will strike upon the men of the House of the Sun, for they saw in the ark of Jehovah, and he will strike upon the people seventy men, and fifty thousand men: and the people will mourn because Jehovah smote among the people a great smiting.
And he will strike upon the men of the House of the Sun, for they saw in the ark of Jehovah, and he will strike upon the people seventy men, and fifty thousand men: and the people will mourn because Jehovah smote among the people a great smiting.
And he will strike upon the men of the House of the Sun, for they saw in the ark of Jehovah, and he will strike upon the people seventy men, and fifty thousand men: and the people will mourn because Jehovah smote among the people a great smiting.
The son of Dekar, in Makaz, and in Shaalbim, and the House of the Sun, and the oak of the House of Mercy.:
The son of Dekar, in Makaz, and in Shaalbim, and the House of the Sun, and the oak of the House of Mercy.:
And Amaziah heard not And Jehoash king of Israel will come up, and they will see faces, he and Amaziah king of Judah, in the house of the sun, which was to Judah.
And Amaziah heard not And Jehoash king of Israel will come up, and they will see faces, he and Amaziah king of Judah, in the house of the sun, which was to Judah. And Judah will be smitten before Israel; and they will flee a man to his tent
And Judah will be smitten before Israel; and they will flee a man to his tent And Jehoash king of Israel seized Amaziah king of Judah, son of Jehoash son of Ahaziah, in the house of the sun; and he will come to Jerusalem, and he will break in the wall of Jerusalem in the gate of Ephraim, even to the gate of the corner, four hundred cubits
And Jehoash king of Israel seized Amaziah king of Judah, son of Jehoash son of Ahaziah, in the house of the sun; and he will come to Jerusalem, and he will break in the wall of Jerusalem in the gate of Ephraim, even to the gate of the corner, four hundred cubits
And the rovers invaded upon the cities of the low country, and the south to Judah, and they will take the house of the sun, and the oak, and the walls, and the branches and her daughters, and the portion assigned and her daughters, and Gimzo and her daughters: and they will dwell there.
And the rovers invaded upon the cities of the low country, and the south to Judah, and they will take the house of the sun, and the oak, and the walls, and the branches and her daughters, and the portion assigned and her daughters, and Gimzo and her daughters: and they will dwell there.
And he brake the pillars of the house of the sun which is in the land of Egypt; and the houses of the Gods of Egypt he shall burn in fire.
And he brake the pillars of the house of the sun which is in the land of Egypt; and the houses of the Gods of Egypt he shall burn in fire.
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.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And the bound encompassed from Baalah to the sea to mount Seir, and passed over to the shoulder of Jearim from the north (this is Chesalon) and it went down to the House of the Sun, and passed over to Timnah:
And the bound struck upon Tabor, and Shahazimah, and the House of the Sun; and the outgoings of their bounds were Jordan: sixteen cities and their enclosures.
And Iron, and Migdol-El, Ho-rem, and the Mouse of Affliction, and the House of the Sun; nineteen cities and their enclosures.
Naphtali drove not out the inhabitants of the House of the Sun, and the inhabitants of the House of Affliction; and he dwelt in the midst of the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land; and the inhabitants of the House of the Sun, and of the House of Response, they were to them for tribute.
And see if it shall go up the way of its bound to the House of the Sun, it did to us this great evil: and if not we shall know that not his hand struck upon us; it was a chance to us. And the men did so, and they will take two heifers giving milk, and they will make them fast to the wagon, and they shut up their young in the house. read more. And they set the ark of Jehovah into the wagon, and the box, and the mice of gold, and the likenesses of the tumors. And the heifers will look about in the way, upon the way of the House of the Sun, in one highway they went going, and they lowed, and they turned not to the right and to the left; and the princes of Philisteim went after them, even to the bound of the House of the Sun. And the House of the Sun reaping the harvest of wheat in the valley: and they will lift up their eyes and see the ark, and they will rejoice to see. And the wagon came into the field of Joshua of the House of the Sun, and it will stand there; and there a great stone: and they will cleave asunder the wood of the wagon, and the heifers they brought up a burnt-offering to Jehovah. And the Levites brought down the ark of Jehovah, and the coffer that was with it, which in it the vessels of gold, and put upon the great stone: and the men of the House of the Sun brought up burnt-offerings and sacrificed sacrifices in that day to Jehovah. And the five princes of Philisteim saw, and they will turn back to Ekron in that day. And these the tumors of gold which Philisteim turned back a trespass to Jehovah; for Ashdod one, for Gaza one, for Ashkelon one, for Gath one, for Ekron one. And the mice of gold, the number of all the cities of Philisteim, to the five princes from the fortified city, even to the village of the countryman, and even to the great meadow which they put upon it the ark of Jehovah, even to this day in the field of Joshua of the House of the Sun. And he will strike upon the men of the House of the Sun, for they saw in the ark of Jehovah, and he will strike upon the people seventy men, and fifty thousand men: and the people will mourn because Jehovah smote among the people a great smiting. And the men of the House of the Sun will say, Who shall be able to stand before Jehovah this holy God? and to whom shall it go up from us?
And he brake the pillars of the house of the sun which is in the land of Egypt; and the houses of the Gods of Egypt he shall burn in fire.
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
And the bound encompassed from Baalah to the sea to mount Seir, and passed over to the shoulder of Jearim from the north (this is Chesalon) and it went down to the House of the Sun, and passed over to Timnah:
And the bound struck upon Tabor, and Shahazimah, and the House of the Sun; and the outgoings of their bounds were Jordan: sixteen cities and their enclosures.
And Iron, and Migdol-El, Ho-rem, and the Mouse of Affliction, and the House of the Sun; nineteen cities and their enclosures.
Naphtali drove not out the inhabitants of the House of the Sun, and the inhabitants of the House of Affliction; and he dwelt in the midst of the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land; and the inhabitants of the House of the Sun, and of the House of Response, they were to them for tribute.
And he brake the pillars of the house of the sun which is in the land of Egypt; and the houses of the Gods of Egypt he shall burn in fire.
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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And they shall not go in to see for a moment's time the holy place, and die.
And Ain and her area, and Juttah and her area, and the House of the Sun and her area: nine cities from these two tribes.