Bible Location
Meaning: house of the sun · 17 cross references · Modern-day map available
This Beth-shemesh entry refers to the better-known border city in Judah and Dan, not the smaller sites of the same name in Naphtali or Issachar. It is important because the ark returned there from Philistine territory and because it later appears in royal conflict between Israel and Judah. First appears in Josh 15:10.1
Place meaning
house of the sun
Coordinates
31.73, 34.99
First appears
Josh 15:10
AI summary: Among the places called Beth-shemesh, this is the most prominent. It is remembered especially as the place where the ark came back from Philistine hands, making it a striking scene of fear, holiness, and return. Its later role in royal warfare between Israel and Judah adds further political weight. Because several towns share the same name, this page matters for distinguishing the major Judahite Beth-shemesh from the lesser-known northern ones. The cross references present it as a border city of religious and military significance.1
Place meaning
house of the sun
Latitude
31.73
Longitude
34.99
Bible references
17
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. 3
Source note: this 1893 dictionary language reflects its period and may be culturally insensitive or outdated. It is presented as historical source material, not as ai-BIBLE’s language, interpretation, or endorsement.
| Book | Cross-References |
|---|---|
| Josh | |
| 1Sam | |
| 1Kgs | |
| 2Kgs | |
| 1Chr | |
| 2Chr |
Figure1: A table of cross references between the selected passage and other passages (Data from Robert Rouse, “Theographic Bible Information,” Theographic-Bible-Metadata, 2020, https://github.com/robertrouse/theographic-bible-metadata.)
AI-assisted summary prepared for ai-BIBLE and stored as page content, based on dictionary material, place metadata, and linked Bible cross references.
Alistair de Blacquiere-Clarkson, “ai-BIBLE Bible Names JSON Factsheet Aggregating Material from Smith’s Bible Dictionary & Hitcocks’s New and Complete Analysis of the Bible.” ai-BIBLE electronic edition, version 1.0.
M.G.Easton, Illustrated Bible Dictionary, ai-BIBLE electronic edition, version 1.0.
Robert Rouse, “Theographic Bible Information,” Theographic-Bible-Metadata, 2020, https://github.com/robertrouse/theographic-bible-metadata.