Beth-shemesh
Archimandrite Nikifor’s Biblical Encyclopedia
(house of the sun). The most ancient form of idol-worship has left traces of its prevalence in this and similar names. In the Bible at least three different cities are mentioned under this designation: a) (Josh. 19:38; Judg. 1:33) Beth-shemesh, in the days of Joshua, belonged to the tribe of Naphtali, while another, evidently, belonged to the tribe of Issachar; b) Beth-shemesh — a city of Egypt (Jer. 43:13), otherwise, it is thought, the Heliopolis of the Greeks, so called On (Gen. 41:45–50 [as given]).
This city was located 5 English miles from present-day Cairo, at the present settlement of Materiyeh; c) (2 Kings 14:11–13; 1 Sam. 6:12–20) the third Beth-shemesh was a city of the tribe of Judah, on the border with the tribe of Dan, and is called at present Ain Shems. It was to this city that the Ark of the Covenant was sent back by the Philistines, and here a multitude of the inhabitants, 50,070 people, who looked into it out of mere curiosity, were struck down by the Lord (1 Sam. 6:12–20).
This city is also notable for the battle that took place between Israel and Judah, in the days of kings Amaziah and Joash, in which the latter were defeated and their king taken captive (2 Kings 14:11–13, and elsewhere).