Beth-Shemesh — Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

1. Canaanite city on the northern border of Judah’s territory (Jos 15:10) and the southern border of Dan’s (before that tribe migrated north). Beth-shemesh means “the house of Shamash,” the Canaanite sun god. As Ir-shemesh, it was included in the list of cities of Dan (19:41). Beth-shemesh was one of the towns of Judah granted to the Levites (Jos 21:16; 1 Chr 6:59). Its inhabitants were called Beth-shemites (1 Sm 6:14, 18 OET SA1 6:14 · OET SA1 6:18, KJB). When the Philistines decided to dispose of the captured ark of the covenant because plagues were breaking out in their cities, they took it to Beth-shemesh. The area was also the scene of a great victory of King Joash (Jehoash) of Israel over King Amaziah of Judah (2 Chr 25:21-23). About a century later, Beth-shemesh was captured from King Ahaz of Judah by the Philistines (28:16-20). After that, the settlement fell into decline and was finally destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar in 586 BC.

Show passage in OET: JOS 15:10

OET-RV JOS 15:10

10 Then the border went around from Ba’alah to the west to Mt. Se’ir, and passed over to the shoulder of Mt. Yearim from the north (also called Kesalon), and went down to Beyt -Shemesh (Heliopolis), and passed over to Timnah.

OET-LV JOS 15:10

10 And_ the_border _it _turns from_Baˊₐlāh westward_to to the _mountain _of Sēˊīr and_it _passes _on to the _slope _of the _mountain _of Yəˊārīm from_northward_northward that is_Kəşālōn and_it _goes _down Bēyt Shemesh and_it _passes _on Timnāh.

Show passage in OET: JOS 19:41

OET-RV JOS 19:41

41 Their land included the cities of Tsor’ah, Eshtaol, Ir-Shemesh,

OET-LV JOS 19:41

41 And_he/it _was the _territory _of their _inheritance _of_their Tsorˊāh/(Zorah) and_ʼEshtāʼol and_the_city of_the_sun.

Show passage in OET: JOS 21:16

OET-RV JOS 21:16

16 Ayin, Yutah, and Beyt -Shemesh (Heliopolis), all with their surrounding fields—a total of nine cities from within Yehudah and Shim’on’s territories.

OET-LV JOS 21:16

16 And_DOM ˊAyin and_DOM lands _of_its _pasture and_DOM Juttah and_DOM lands _of_its _pasture DOM Bēyt Shemesh and_DOM lands _of_its _pasture cities nine from_with the _two _of the_tribes the_these.

Show passage in OET: CH1 6:59

OET-RV CH1 6:59

59 Ashan, and Beyt -Shemesh (Heliopolis).

OET-LV CH1 6:44

44  And_DOM ˊĀshān and_DOM lands _of_its _pasture and_DOM Bēyt Shemesh and_DOM lands _of_its _pasture.

Show passage in OET: SA1 6:14; SA1 6:18

OET-RV SA1 6:14

14 The cart came into the field belonging to Yehoshua (Joshua) and then the cows just stood there. There was a large stone there, and the people split the sides of the wooden cart into pieces to start a fire, then offered the cows as a burnt sacrifice to Yahweh.

OET-RV SA1 6:18

18 And the gold mice were from the number of all the Pelishti cities under the five rulers, including fortified cities as well as the villages in the open country, and as far as the large stone that they sat Yahweh’s box on. (It’s still in Yehoshua’s (Joshua’s) field in Beyt -Shemesh (Heliopolis) until this day.)

OET-LV SA1 6:14

14 And_the_cart it _came to the _field _of Yəhōshūˊa/(Joshua) the Bēyt and_it _stopped there and_there a _stone large and_they _split DOM the _wood(s)_of the _cart and_DOM the_cows they _offered _up a _burnt _offering to/for_YHWH.

OET-LV SA1 6:18

18 And_the _mice _of the_gold the _number _of all _of the _cities _of belonging_to_the_Pəlishtiy of_the _five _of the_rulers from_a _city _of fortification and_unto (the)_village[s]_of the _hamlet-dweller[s] and_unto ʼĀⱱēl the_great which they _set _down on/upon_it(f) DOM the _box _of YHWH until the_day the_this in_the _field _of Yəhōshūˊa/(Joshua) the Bēyt.

Show passage in OET: CH2 25:21–23

OET-RV CH2 25:21

21 So Yisrael’s King Yoash advanced, and the two armies faced each other at Beyt-Shemesh (Heliopolis) in Yehudah,

OET-RV CH2 25:22

22 and Yehudah was badly defeated by Yisrael, and all their warriors fled back home.

OET-RV CH2 25:23

23 Yisrael’s King Yoash captured King Amatsyah (son of Yoash, son of Yehoahaz) at Beyt-Shemesh and took him to Yerushalem (Jerusalem). Then he tore down Yerushalem’s wall from the Efrayim Gate to the Corner Gate—a section about 180m long.

OET-LV CH2 25:21

21 And_ Yōʼāsh the _king _of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) _he/it _ascended and_ he and_ʼAmaʦ^yāh the _king _of Yəhūdāh _they _looked _at _one _another faces in_house _of shemesh which belonged_to_Yəhūdāh/(Judah).

OET-LV CH2 25:22

22 And_ Yəhūdāh _it _was _defeated to_(the)_face _of/in _front _of/before Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) and_they _fled each to_tents _of_his.

OET-LV CH2 25:23

23 And_DOM ʼAmaʦ^yāh the _king _of Yəhūdāh the _son _of Yōʼāsh/(Joash) the _son _of Yəhōʼāḩāz/(Jehoahaz) Yōʼāsh the _king _of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) he _seized in_house _of shemesh and_he_brought _him Yərūshālaim/(Jerusalem) and_he _made _a _breach in_the _wall _of Yərūshālaim/(Jerusalem) from_the _gate _of ʼEfrayim to the _gate _of the _face four hundred(s) cubit[s].

Show passage in OET: CH2 28:16–20

OET-RV CH2 28:16

16 Around that time, King Ahaz requested help from the Assyrian kings,

OET-RV CH2 28:17

17 because the Edomim had been and attacked Yehudah and taken captives.

OET-RV CH2 28:18

18 Also the Pelishtim had raided the lowland cities and the Negev, and they’d captured Beyt -Shemesh (Heliopolis), Ayalon, and Gederot, as well as Sokoh, Timnah, and Gimzo with their surrounding villages,

OET-RV CH2 28:19

19 because Yahweh was humbling Yehudah because King Ahaz had thrown off restraint there and been very unfaithful to Yahweh.

OET-RV CH2 28:20

20 So the Assyrian King Tiglat -Pileser came, but he ended up adding to his troubles rather than helping.

OET-LV CH2 28:16

16 At_time (the)_that the_king ʼĀḩāz he _sent to the _kings _of ʼAshshūr to_help to_him/it.

OET-LV CH2 28:17

17 And_again the_ʼEdōmites they _had _come and_they _had _defeated (in)_Yəhūdāh/(Judah) and_they _had _taken _captive captive[s].

OET-LV CH2 28:18

18 And_the_Pəlishtiy they _had _made _a _raid on_the _cities _of the _Shephelah and_the_Negeⱱ of_Yəhūdāh and_they _had _captured DOM Bēyt Shemesh and_DOM ʼAyyālōn and_DOM (the)_Gədērōt and_DOM Sōkoh and_her/its_daughters and_DOM Timnah and_her/its_daughters and_DOM Gimzō and_DOM daughters _of_its and_they _lived there.

OET-LV CH2 28:19

19 If/because YHWH he _had _humbled DOM Yəhūdāh in_account _of ʼĀḩāz the _king _of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) if/because he _had _allowed _lack _of _restraint in_Yəhūdāh and_he _had _acted _unfaithfully unfaithfulness against_YHWH.

OET-LV CH2 28:20

20 And_he _came on/upon/above_him/it Tiglat pilʼeşer the _king _of ʼAshshūr and_he/it _laid _siege to_him/it and_not he_strengthened _him.

Jump to OET JOS 15:10 section.

Jump to OET JOS 19:41 section.

Jump to OET JOS 21:16 section.

Jump to OET CH1 6:59 section.

Jump to OET SA1 6:14 section. · OET SA1 6:18 section.

Jump to OET CH2 25:21–23 section.

Jump to OET CH2 28:16–20 section.

Show passage in OET: JOS 19:22

OET-RV JOS 19:22

22 The border of their allotment met with Tavor, Shahatsimah, and Beyt -Shemesh (Heliopolis), coming out in the east at the Yarden (Jordan)—a total of sixteen cities as well as their surrounding villages.

OET-LV JOS 19:22

22 And_ the_border _it _touches (on)_Tāⱱōr Shahazayim and_Bēyt- shemesh and_ the _extremities _of their _territory _of_their _they _will _be the_Yardēn/(Jordan) cities six- teen and_villages _of_their.

Jump to OET JOS 19:22 section.

3. Fortified Canaanite city allotted to Naphtali’s tribe (Jos 19:38). The inhabitants of this Beth-shemesh were not driven out by the Israelites (Jgs 1:33).

Show passage in OET: JOS 19:38

OET-RV JOS 19:38

38 Yir’on, Migdal -El, Horem, Beyt-Anat, and Beyt -Shemesh (Heliopolis)—a total of nineteen cities as well as their surrounding villages.

OET-LV JOS 19:38

38 And_Yiron and_Migdal- ^ʼēl Horem and_Bēyt- anath and_Bēyt- shemesh cities nine- teen and_villages _of_their.

Show passage in OET: JDG 1:33

OET-RV JDG 1:33

33 Naftali’s (Naphtali’s) descendants didn’t drive out those who were living in Beyt -Shemesh (Heliopolis) or Beyt-Anat, so they continued to live among them and were forced to work as slaves.

OET-LV JDG 1:33

33 Naftālī not it _dispossessed DOM the _inhabitants _of Bēyt Shemesh and_DOM the _inhabitants _of Bēyt Anath and_he/it _sat _down//remained//lived in_the _midst _of the_Kənaˊₐnī[s] the _inhabitants _of the_earth/land and_the _inhabitants _of Bēyt Shemesh and_Bēyt- anath they _became to/for_them (into)_forced_labour.

Jump to OET JOS 19:38 section.

Jump to OET JDG 1:33 section.

4. KJV reference to the Egyptian city of Heliopolis (or On), where the sun was worshiped (Jer 43:13). See Heliopolis.