BETHSHVIVIESH (Helt.. house of the sun, or sun town). The name given to several places in the Old Testament, the most important of which was a town situated in Judah given to the Levites (Joshua xxi. 16), though subsequently included in the territory of Naphtali (Joshua xix. 38). It corresponds to the modern Ain Silents, about 15 miles southwest of Jerusalem, finely situated on the point of a low ridge, command ing an extensive view of the country. It is interesting as the place where the Ark first rested after the Philistines had sent it back (I. Sam. vi. 9). One of Solomon's twelve purveyors resided at Bethshemesh (I. Kings iv. 9) ; and here was fought the battle between Judah and Israel, hi which Jelmash captured Amaziah (IT. Kings xiv. 11-13: 11. Citron. xiv. 21-23). Beth shemesh was taken by the Philistines during the reign of Aliaz (IL Citron. xxviii. 18), end from that time disappears from history. The name indicates that it was a centre of sun-worship: Ti, .Jeremiah (xliii. 13) there is an interesting
reference to the "pillars of Beth Shemesh, that is in the land of Egypt," which, as the Greek translation shows, rendering "the pillars of Heli opolis that are at On," is intended for On in Lower Egypt. The pillars refer to the obelisks associated with the worship of Re, the Egyptian sun-god.
btEtnn'. A town in the De partment of Pas-de-Calais, France, built on a rock overlooking the river Brette, and the canals of Lome and Aire, 16 miles north-northwest of Arras (Map: France. .1 1). It is strongly forti fied, the works having been begun by Vauban, who made it one of the strong places of Artois. Its principal public buildings are the Gothic Church of Saint Vaast, two hospitals, and a com munal collage. It has manufactures of linen d cloth, and a considerable trade in the agri cultural produce of the surrounding country. The first artesian wells arc said to have been bored here. Population, in 1890, 11.627.