The Biblical Beit Shemesh Part of the territory allotted to the tribe of Levy, the biblical town of Beit Shemesh was settled by Israelites in the 11th or 10th century B.C.E. There were already Jews there when, during a battle with the Israelites, the Philistines took the Ark of the Lord. As soon as they realized that the ark was bringing them nothing but trouble, they decided to return it to the Israelites and sent it to Beit Shemesh. Tel Beit Shemesh covers about 28 dunams and is located above the Sorek Valley. From the top of the hill the Jews of Beit Shemesh watched the approach of the ark, as it traveled atop a cattle-drawn cart from the Philistine town of Ekron in the west. The cart came to the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh, and there it stopped beside a large rock.[1 Samuel 5:13-14]. The town, which controlled the northern approach to Judah, was at one time of great strategic importance. It is mentioned yet again, in the Bible, when Amazia King of Judah and Jehoash King of Israel looked into each others faces at Beit Shemesh. (2 Kings: 14:11). Beit Shemesh was probably destroyed by the Assyrians in 701 BCE. The higher part of the tel is full of Byzantine remains that include ruins from a large, fortified monastery. At a much lower level, however, there remain parts of walls and buildings that belonged to the well fortified Israelite town. An enormous, cross-shaped underground water reservoir was discovered beneath the city and remains there to this day. Among the findings at Tel Beit Shemesh was a bowl dating back to the 8th century B.C.E. Archeologist Gabi Barkay believes that the letters aleph, bet and kaph, chiseled onto the bowl after it was fired, may refer to the word ahiha, or your brother. Since the word brother is used often in the Bible to refer to other Israelites, he feels that it could have been a bowl in which Jews frequenting a worship site would leave food for the poor. Aviva Bar-Am is the author of 7 full color,unique guides to Israel, and travel correspondent for the Jerusalem Post. Her husband, tour guide and professional photographer Shmuel Bar-Am, took all of the books fabulous photos. Together they are Israel Travels, a husband and wife team providing customized tours and personalized service. For more information about Avivas books and guided tours, see israeltravels
Posted on: Sat, 18 Oct 2014 04:01:17 +0000