# Beth Shemesh ## Facts: Beth Shemesh was the name of a Canaanite city approximately 30 kilometers west of Jerusalem. * The Israelites captured Beth Shemesh during the time of Joshua's leadership. * Beth Shemesh was a city that was set aside as a place for the Levite priests to live. * When the Philistines were taking the captured ark of the covenant back to Jerusalem, Beth Shemesh was the first city where they stopped with it. (Translation suggestions: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names]]) (See also: [ark of the covenant](../kt/arkofthecovenant.md), [Canaan](../names/canaan.md), [Jerusalem](../names/jerusalem.md), [Joshua](../names/joshua.md), [Levite](../names/levite.md), [Philistines](../names/philistines.md)) ## Bible References: * [1 Kings 04:09](rc://en/tn/help/1ki/04/09) * [1 Samuel 06:09](rc://en/tn/help/1sa/06/09) * [Joshua 19:20-22](rc://en/tn/help/jos/19/20) * [Judges 01:33](rc://en/tn/help/jdg/01/33) ## Word Data: * Strong's: H1053 ## Forms Found in the English ULB: Beth Shemesh