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shemesh

Shemesh is a Hebrew word meaning sun. In modern Hebrew, it functions as both a common noun and a personal or place-name element, appearing in various forms such as Beit Shemesh (House of the Sun) and in individual names. The term is also used in biblical and historical contexts toponymically.

In biblical usage, Beth Shemesh (Beit Shemesh) is described as a city in the territory of Judah.

Modern Beit Shemesh is a city located in the Jerusalem District of Israel, situated to the west

Beyond geography, Shemesh appears as a surname and a component of given names in Hebrew-speaking communities.

The
site
is
associated
with
the
biblical
narrative
of
the
Ark
of
the
Covenant,
which
was
returned
by
the
Philistines
and
placed
in
Beth
Shemesh
for
a
period
before
the
Ark
was
moved
to
Kiriath-Jearim.
Archaeological
and
toponymic
research
generally
identifies
the
ancient
Beth
Shemesh
with
Tell
Beit
Shemesh,
near
the
modern
town
of
Beit
Shemesh
in
Israel.
The
city
figures
in
several
episodes
in
the
books
of
Samuel,
including
accounts
of
the
people
looking
into
the
Ark
and
facing
consequences,
which
are
part
of
the
broader
Deuteronomistic
history.
of
Jerusalem.
It
developed
significantly
in
the
20th
and
21st
centuries
and
includes
a
mix
of
residential,
commercial,
and
educational
activities.
The
name
Beit
Shemesh
is
retained
from
the
biblical
toponym,
reflecting
continuity
in
the
region’s
historical
and
cultural
landscape.
It
is
used
in
various
transliterations
and
appears
in
diaspora
contexts,
often
preserving
the
connection
to
the
meaning
“sun.”