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Beth-shean

Jezreel / Jordan Valley

City in Jezreel / Jordan Valley · today Beit She’an (Tel Beth-Shean), Israel

Meaning: “House of (the god) Shan

The valley fortress on whose wall the Philistines displayed the bodies of Saul and his sons.

Location

Overview

Beth-shean (Bethshan) guarded the junction of the Jezreel and Jordan valleys, one of the strongest and oldest cities of the land.

The wall of Beth-shean

After the disaster on Gilboa, the Philistines "fastened his body to the wall of Bethshan," displaying Saul and his sons as trophies — until the men of Jabesh-gilead took them away (1 Samuel 31:10–12).

An unconquered stronghold

Though assigned to Manasseh, Beth-shean long held out: "the Canaanites would dwell in that land," for they had chariots of iron (Joshua 17:11–16; Judges 1:27).

A city of Solomon's district

By Solomon's day it was firmly within Israel, part of a royal administrative district (1 Kings 4:12).

Events Here

1011 BC

Saul's body is displayed on the wall of Beth-shean

1 Samuel 31:10

Scripture References

8 verses
Joshua2 verses

Joshua 17:11

And Manasseh had in Issachar and in Asher Bethshean and her towns, and Ibleam and her towns, and the inhabitants of Dor and her towns, and the inhabitants of Endor and her towns, and the inhabitants of Taanach and her towns, and the inhabitants of Megiddo and her towns, even three countries.

Joshua 17:16

And the children of Joseph said, The hill is not enough for us: and all the Canaanites that dwell in the land of the valley have chariots of iron, both they who are of Bethshean and her towns, and they who are of the valley of Jezreel.

Judges1 verse

Judges 1:27

Neither did Manasseh drive out the inhabitants of Bethshean and her towns, nor Taanach and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Dor and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Ibleam and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Megiddo and her towns: but the Canaanites would dwell in that land.

1 Samuel2 verses

1 Samuel 31:10

And they put his armour in the house of Ashtaroth: and they fastened his body to the wall of Bethshan.

1 Samuel 31:12

All the valiant men arose, and went all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Bethshan, and came to Jabesh, and burnt them there.

2 Samuel1 verse

2 Samuel 21:12

And David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from the men of Jabeshgilead, which had stolen them from the street of Bethshan, where the Philistines had hanged them, when the Philistines had slain Saul in Gilboa:

1 Kings1 verse

1 Kings 4:12

Baana the son of Ahilud; to him pertained Taanach and Megiddo, and all Bethshean, which is by Zartanah beneath Jezreel, from Bethshean to Abelmeholah, even unto the place that is beyond Jokneam:

1 Chronicles1 verse

1 Chronicles 7:29

And by the borders of the children of Manasseh, Bethshean and her towns, Taanach and her towns, Megiddo and her towns, Dor and her towns. In these dwelt the children of Joseph the son of Israel. towns: Heb. daughters

Archaeology & History

Tel Beth-Shean is one of the most impressive archaeological sites in Israel — a towering mound with some twenty layers of occupation, beside the splendidly preserved ruins of the Roman-Byzantine city of Scythopolis. Its strategic command of two valleys made it a prize for Egyptians, Canaanites, Philistines, and Israelites alike.

People who appear here

Saul2×
David1×
Jonathan1×

Frequently asked about Beth-shean

Where is Beth-shean today?

Today, Beth-shean corresponds to Beit She’an (Tel Beth-Shean), Israel.

What does the name Beth-shean mean?

The name Beth-shean means “House of (the god) Shan”.

What happened at Beth-shean in the Bible?

Key biblical events at Beth-shean include saul's body is displayed on the wall of beth-shean.

Where is Beth-shean first mentioned in the Bible?

Beth-shean is first mentioned in Joshua 17:11.

How often is Beth-shean mentioned in the Bible?

Beth-shean is mentioned in 8 verses across 6 books: Joshua, Judges, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 1 Chronicles.

What happened at Beth-shean?

The Philistines displayed the bodies of Saul and his sons on its wall after the battle of Gilboa, until the men of Jabesh-gilead recovered them.

Where is Beth-shean?

At the meeting of the Jezreel and Jordan valleys in northern Israel, at Tel Beth-Shean beside modern Beit She’an.