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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And he called Joseph's name Zaphenath-Paneah. And he gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of Poti-Pherah priest of On. Then went Joseph abroad in the land of Egypt.
And he called Joseph's name Zaphenath-Paneah. And he gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of Poti-Pherah priest of On. Then went Joseph abroad in the land of Egypt.
and then it compasseth from Baalah westward, unto Seir, and then goeth along unto the side of mount Jearim, otherwise called Chesalon, on the north side thereof; and cometh down to Bethshemesh and goeth to Timnah,
and then it compasseth from Baalah westward, unto Seir, and then goeth along unto the side of mount Jearim, otherwise called Chesalon, on the north side thereof; and cometh down to Bethshemesh and goeth to Timnah,
and then it compasseth from Baalah westward, unto Seir, and then goeth along unto the side of mount Jearim, otherwise called Chesalon, on the north side thereof; and cometh down to Bethshemesh and goeth to Timnah,
and then it compasseth from Baalah westward, unto Seir, and then goeth along unto the side of mount Jearim, otherwise called Chesalon, on the north side thereof; and cometh down to Bethshemesh and goeth to Timnah,
And his coasts met at Tabor, Shahazumah and at Bethshemesh and endeth at Jordan: Sixteen cities with their villages.
And his coasts met at Tabor, Shahazumah and at Bethshemesh and endeth at Jordan: Sixteen cities with their villages.
Yiron, Migdalel, Horem, Bethanath and Bethshemesh: Nineteen cities with their villages.
Yiron, Migdalel, Horem, Bethanath and Bethshemesh: Nineteen cities with their villages.
and Ain with her suburbs, and Juttah with her suburbs, and Bethshemesh with her suburbs: Nine cities out of those two tribes.
and Ain with her suburbs, and Juttah with her suburbs, and Bethshemesh with her suburbs: Nine cities out of those two tribes.
Neither did Naphtali drive out the inhabiters of Bethshemesh, nor the inhabiters of Bethanath, but dwelt amongst the Cananites the inhabiters of the land. Nevertheless the inhabiters of Bethshemesh, and of Bethanath became tributaries unto them.
Neither did Naphtali drive out the inhabiters of Bethshemesh, nor the inhabiters of Bethanath, but dwelt amongst the Cananites the inhabiters of the land. Nevertheless the inhabiters of Bethshemesh, and of Bethanath became tributaries unto them.
And so the Amorites went and dwelled in mount Heres in Aijalon and in Shaalbim. Neverthelater, the hand of Joseph waxed heavy upon them, so that they became tributaries.
And so the Amorites went and dwelled in mount Heres in Aijalon and in Shaalbim. Neverthelater, the hand of Joseph waxed heavy upon them, so that they became tributaries.
And they of Bethshemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley. And they lifted up their eyes and spied the ark. And rejoiced when they saw it.
And they of Bethshemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley. And they lifted up their eyes and spied the ark. And rejoiced when they saw it.
And the golden mice were according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines through the five lordships: both of walled towns and of towns unwalled, even unto the great stone whereon they set down the ark of the LORD: which stone remaineth unto this day in the field of Joshua the Bethshemite.
And the golden mice were according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines through the five lordships: both of walled towns and of towns unwalled, even unto the great stone whereon they set down the ark of the LORD: which stone remaineth unto this day in the field of Joshua the Bethshemite. And he plagued the men of Bethshemesh, because they had seen the ark of the LORD. And he slew of the people fifty thousand and three score and ten persons. And the people lamented, because the LORD had slain so great a slaughter of them.
And he plagued the men of Bethshemesh, because they had seen the ark of the LORD. And he slew of the people fifty thousand and three score and ten persons. And the people lamented, because the LORD had slain so great a slaughter of them.
And he plagued the men of Bethshemesh, because they had seen the ark of the LORD. And he slew of the people fifty thousand and three score and ten persons. And the people lamented, because the LORD had slain so great a slaughter of them.
And he plagued the men of Bethshemesh, because they had seen the ark of the LORD. And he slew of the people fifty thousand and three score and ten persons. And the people lamented, because the LORD had slain so great a slaughter of them.
But Amaziah would not hear. And so Joash king of Israel went up, and he and Amaziah king of Judah saw either other at Bethshemesh in Judah.
But Amaziah would not hear. And so Joash king of Israel went up, and he and Amaziah king of Judah saw either other at Bethshemesh in Judah. And Judah was put to the worse before Israel, and they fled every man to his tent.
And Judah was put to the worse before Israel, and they fled every man to his tent. And Joash king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, son of Jehoash son of Ahaziah, at Bethshemesh. And then he went to Jerusalem, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim to the corner gate, four hundred cubits.
And Joash king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, son of Jehoash son of Ahaziah, at Bethshemesh. And then he went to Jerusalem, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim to the corner gate, four hundred cubits.
And the Philistines invaded the cities in the low country and the south of Judah: and took Bethshemesh, Aijalon, Gederoth and Socoh with the towns longing thereto, and Timnah with the towns of the same, and Gimzo with her towns, and dwelt therein.
And the Philistines invaded the cities in the low country and the south of Judah: and took Bethshemesh, Aijalon, Gederoth and Socoh with the towns longing thereto, and Timnah with the towns of the same, and Gimzo with her towns, and dwelt therein.
The pillars also of the temple of the Sun that is in Egypt shall he break in pieces, and burn the temples of the Egyptian's gods."
The pillars also of the temple of the Sun that is in Egypt shall he break in pieces, and burn the temples of the Egyptian's 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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and then it compasseth from Baalah westward, unto Seir, and then goeth along unto the side of mount Jearim, otherwise called Chesalon, on the north side thereof; and cometh down to Bethshemesh and goeth to Timnah,
And his coasts met at Tabor, Shahazumah and at Bethshemesh and endeth at Jordan: Sixteen cities with their villages.
Yiron, Migdalel, Horem, Bethanath and Bethshemesh: Nineteen cities with their villages.
Neither did Naphtali drive out the inhabiters of Bethshemesh, nor the inhabiters of Bethanath, but dwelt amongst the Cananites the inhabiters of the land. Nevertheless the inhabiters of Bethshemesh, and of Bethanath became tributaries unto them.
And mark if he go up by the way that leadeth unto his own coast, to Bethshemesh, then it is he that did us this great evil. But and if he do not, then it is not his hand that smote us, but it was a chance that happened us." And the men did even so: they took two kine that gave milk and tied them in the cart, and kept the calves at home, read more. and they laid the ark of the LORD upon the cart and the forcer with the mice of gold and the images of their arses with hemorrhoids. And the kine took the straight way to Bethshemesh, both one way, and as they went, lowed, turning neither to the righthand nor to the left. And the lords of the Philistines went after them until they came to the borders of Bethshemesh. And they of Bethshemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley. And they lifted up their eyes and spied the ark. And rejoiced when they saw it. And the cart came into the grove of one Joshua, a Bethshemite, and stood still there. There was there also a great stone. And they clave the wood of the cart and offered the kine a burnt offering unto the LORD. And the Levites took down the ark of the LORD and the forcer that was thereby, wherein the Jewels of gold were and put them on the great stone. And the men of Bethshemesh sacrificed burnt sacrifice and offered offerings that same day unto the LORD. And when the five lords of the Philistines had seen it, they returned to Ekron the same day. These are the golden arses with hemorrhoids which the Philistines gave to amends for a trespass offering to the LORD: for Ashdod one; for Gaza one; for Ashkelon one; for Gath one; and for Ekron one. And the golden mice were according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines through the five lordships: both of walled towns and of towns unwalled, even unto the great stone whereon they set down the ark of the LORD: which stone remaineth unto this day in the field of Joshua the Bethshemite. And he plagued the men of Bethshemesh, because they had seen the ark of the LORD. And he slew of the people fifty thousand and three score and ten persons. And the people lamented, because the LORD had slain so great a slaughter of them. And the men of Bethshemesh said, "Who is able to stand before the LORD, so holy a God, and to whom shall he go from us?"
The pillars also of the temple of the Sun that is in Egypt shall he break in pieces, and burn the temples of the Egyptian's 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.
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and then it compasseth from Baalah westward, unto Seir, and then goeth along unto the side of mount Jearim, otherwise called Chesalon, on the north side thereof; and cometh down to Bethshemesh and goeth to Timnah,
And his coasts met at Tabor, Shahazumah and at Bethshemesh and endeth at Jordan: Sixteen cities with their villages.
Yiron, Migdalel, Horem, Bethanath and Bethshemesh: Nineteen cities with their villages.
Neither did Naphtali drive out the inhabiters of Bethshemesh, nor the inhabiters of Bethanath, but dwelt amongst the Cananites the inhabiters of the land. Nevertheless the inhabiters of Bethshemesh, and of Bethanath became tributaries unto them.
The pillars also of the temple of the Sun that is in Egypt shall he break in pieces, and burn the temples of the Egyptian's 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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and Ain with her suburbs, and Juttah with her suburbs, and Bethshemesh with her suburbs: Nine cities out of those two tribes.