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BETH-SHEMESH (‘house’ or ‘temple of the sun’).—1. A town in Judah (Jos_15:10 etc., called Ir-Shemesh in Jos_19:41) allotted to the children of Aaron (Jos_21:15). Hither the ark was brought when sent back by the Philistines, and the inhabitants were smitten because of their profane curiosity (1Sa_6:1-21). Here Amaziah was defeated and captured by Jehoash, king of Israel (2Ki_14:11; 2Ki_14:13). It was one of the cities taken by the Philistines in the time of Ahaz (2Ch_28:18). It is identified with the modern ‘Ain Shems, on the S. slope of Wâdy es-Surâr, 15 miles W. of Jerusalem. 2. A city in Issachar (Jos_19:22), unidentified. 3. A city in Naphtali (Jos_19:38), unidentified. 4. A city in Egypt, a seat of heathen idolatry (Jer_43:13), identified with the ancient Heliopolis, called ‘Ain Shems by the Arabs (Wallis Budge, The Nile, 281f.).
W. Ewing.