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Tel Beit Shemesh, the Site of the Ancient Beit Shemesh Mentioned in Tanach, Covers About Seven Acres of a Low Hill Near the Modern City

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Tel Beit Shemesh, the Site of the Ancient Beit Shemesh Mentioned in Tanach, Covers About Seven Acres of a Low Hill Near the Modern City UseThisummer06Rev 5/30/06 11:47 AM Page 68 On&OffTheBeatenTrackInOn&OffTheBeatenTrackIn Tel Beit Shemesh, the site of the ancient Beit Shemesh mentioned in Tanach, covers about seven acres of a low hill near the modern city. Photos: Tel Beit Shemesh www.sassontiram.com By Peter Abelow R ecently, I mentioned to a friend The modern city of Beit Shemesh, pulled by two cows. Sefer Shmuel who lives in the growing city of Beit on the eastern side of the road, looks describes what happens next: Shemesh that I would be writing about down on the site of the ancient city. The cows set out on the direct Tel Beit Shemesh in the coming issue of The modern road actually climbs the road—on the road to Beit Shemesh—on a this magazine. northern side of the tel, crosses over the single road did they go, lowing as they “Where is that?” he asked me, in top and descends on the south side. went, and they did not veer right or left. all seriousness. We first read of Beit Shemesh in The governors of the Philistines went “You don’t know?” I responded, sefer Yehoshua, which describes the town behind them until the border of Beit shocked. “It’s under the main road. You as being one of the borders of shevet Shemesh. [The people of] Beit Shemesh drive over the top of the tel every day!” Yehudah (Yehoshua 15: 10-11). Later, in were reaping the wheat harvest in the val- A tel is a mound, formed by the chapter 19, Beit Shemesh is mentioned ley, when they raised their eyes and saw as one of the cities given to the Levi’im, remains of many civilizations that once the Ark, and they rejoiced to see [it] (I within the territory of Yehudah. Because Shmuel 6:12-13). occupied the spot, one on top of the of its strategic location, on the border Excavations were conducted on other, each new town being built on top between Yehudah and the ancient terri- the tel in the early part of the twentieth of the remains of the old, like a layer tory of the Philistines, Beit Shemesh century and again in the thirties by cake of history. also figures prominently in one of the British archaeologists. Since 1990, well-known stories in sefer Shmuel. The teams of archaeologists from Bar-Ilan Mr. Abelow is a licensed tour guide and the Philistines captured the Ark of the University, Ben Gurion University of associate director of Keshet: The Center for Covenant in a battle at Even Ha’ezer. the Negev and Tel Aviv University have Educational Tourism in Israel. Keshet specializes The victorious Philistines carried the returned to uncover more ruins. in running inspiring and enjoyable tours of Ark back to their territory, but it There is a small parking area on Israel for congregations, schools and families. brought them nothing but trouble and the west side of the road. Although the Mr. Abelow can be reached at 972-54-313- suffering. Finally, in desperation, they area is not officially open to the public, 3712 or at [email protected]. placed the Ark on a wagon, which was it is worthwhile to take a few minutes to 68 JEWISH ACTION Summer 5766/2006 UseThisummer06Rev 5/30/06 11:47 AM Page 69 stroll along the top of the tel, which extends over seven acres to the west. You will see remains that have been discovered from the Late Bronze Age (the period of the Judges—twelfth and eleventh centuries BCE), from the Iron Age (the period of the United Kingdom—tenth century BCE) as well as from the Kingdom of Judea (ninth to seventh centuries BCE). There is evidence of city fortifications, sophisticated water systems and an olive oil industry that seems to have flourished in Beit Ongoing excavations show evidence of city fortifications, sophisticated water systems and an olive oil industry that seems to have flourished in Beit Shemesh in the eighth century BCE. Shemesh in the eighth century BCE. Under one of the olive presses on the western side of the tel, archaeologists have found large accumulations of ash, evidence, they believe, of an iron industry that existed during the time the Philistines controlled the region. Tel Beit Shemesh is not a national park site, and there are no brochures to guide you. When visiting the area, you are really on your own. Perhaps if you are lucky, while you are there a tour group will stop by and you will be able to eaves- drop on the guide’s descriptions of the various archaeological remains. Ongoing excavations at the site take place in the late spring and early summer, and if you are there at the right time, one of the archaeologists might be willing to share some insights as well. Next time you are driving south on Route 35 from Sha’ar Hagai to Beit Shemesh, Ramat Beit Shemesh or in the direction of Gush Etzion, pull over to the right and take a few minutes to go back 3,000 years. JA Summer 5766/2006 JEWISH ACTION 69.
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