5905. Ir Shemesh
Lexical Summary
Ir Shemesh: Ir Shemesh

Original Word: עִיר שֶׁמֶשׁ
Part of Speech: Proper Name Location
Transliteration: `Iyr Shemesh
Pronunciation: eer sheh-mesh
Phonetic Spelling: (eer sheh'-mesh)
KJV: Ir-shemesh
NASB: Ir-shemesh
Word Origin: [from H5892 (עִיר עָר עָיַר - City) and H8121 (שֶׁמֶשׁ - sun)]

1. city of the sun
2. Ir-Shemesh, a place in Israel

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Ir-shemesh

From iyr and shemesh; city of the sun; Ir-Shemesh, a place in Palestine -- Ir-shemesh.

see HEBREW iyr

see HEBREW shemesh

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from ir and shemesh
Definition
"city of the sun," a city in Dan
NASB Translation
Ir-shemesh (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
עִיר שָׁ֑מֶשׁ proper name, of a location (city of the sun(-god)), assigned to Dan Joshua 19:41 (P), = ׳בֵּית שׁ q. v.; πόλεις Σαμμαυς, A ᵐ5L πόλις Σαμες.

Topical Lexicon
Biblical Setting

Ir-shemesh appears once in Scripture, in the record of the tribal allotments: “The territory of their inheritance included Zorah, Eshtaol, Ir-shemesh” (Joshua 19:41). The city lay within the land assigned to the tribe of Dan, bordering the Shephelah and the hill country of Judah. Its placement beside Zorah and Eshtaol—towns linked with Samson’s birth and ministry (Judges 13:2; 16:31)—suggests a position near the upper Sorek Valley, an area marking the transition from the Philistine plain to Israelite highlands.

Geographical Identification

Because the allotment list groups Ir-shemesh with sites otherwise located south-west of Jerusalem, many researchers equate it with Beth-shemesh (“House of the Sun”) about twenty kilometers west-southwest of Jerusalem, modern Tell er-Rumeileh. Others differentiate the two, proposing a yet-unexcavated location slightly north-east of Beth-shemesh, perhaps Khirbet ‘Ain Shemsîyeh. The limited appearance in Scripture leaves final identification open, yet the city’s inclusion in Dan’s inheritance underscores the tribe’s intended westward reach before Philistine pressure forced migration northward (Judges 18:1).

Historical Context

Ir-shemesh lay on the strategic corridor between the Aijalon Valley and the coastal plain. Control of such passes was crucial throughout the settlement period; later battles near Beth-shemesh (1 Samuel 6; 2 Kings 14:11) highlight continued contest over the same terrain. Although the text records no direct events at Ir-shemesh itself, its proximity to these theaters implies shared exposure to Philistine incursions and Judahite-Israelite defenses.

Symbolic Resonance

The city’s name, evoking the sun, invites reflection on light imagery in Scripture. While Israel was repeatedly warned against solar worship practiced by surrounding nations (Deuteronomy 17:3; Ezekiel 8:16), the sun remains a God-given emblem of His benevolent rule: “The Lord God is a sun and shield” (Psalm 84:11). Thus Ir-shemesh stands as a geographic reminder that creation’s brightest light is to serve God’s glory, not supplant it.

Theological and Ministry Implications

1. Land Inheritance and Faithfulness: Ir-shemesh illustrates the detailed fulfillment of God’s promise to give Israel land by specific boundaries (Genesis 15:18-21). Believers today draw assurance from the Lord’s precision in keeping covenant promises (Hebrews 6:17-18).
2. Light in a Dark Frontier: Stationed on the borderlands, Ir-shemesh symbolizes the calling of God’s people to bear light where pagan influence looms. Jesus, “the true light” (John 1:9), commissions His church to shine with the same clarity (Matthew 5:14-16).
3. Guarding True Worship: The presence of sun-themed place names warns against syncretism. Ministry must distinguish between honoring the Creator and adopting the forms of idolatry prevalent around us (2 Corinthians 6:16-18).

Archaeological Perspective

Excavations at Beth-shemesh have uncovered Late Bronze and Iron Age levels matching the chronology of Joshua. City gates, storage complexes, and cultic installations reveal a hub of agricultural and military significance. Should Ir-shemesh be identical with Beth-shemesh, these findings illuminate the environment Dan inherited yet struggled to secure (Judges 1:34). If a separate site, ongoing surveys in the Sorek watershed may yet yield confirmation.

Conclusion

Though mentioned only once, Ir-shemesh contributes to the rich mosaic of Israel’s settlement, reminding readers that every town, however briefly noted, participates in the overarching narrative of divine promise, human responsibility, and the ultimate dawning of God’s redemptive light in Jesus Christ.

Forms and Transliterations
שָֽׁמֶשׁ׃ שמש׃ šā·meš šāmeš Shamesh
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Joshua 19:41
HEB: וְאֶשְׁתָּא֖וֹל וְעִ֥יר שָֽׁמֶשׁ׃
NAS: was Zorah and Eshtaol and Ir-shemesh,
KJV: was Zorah, and Eshtaol, and Irshemesh,
INT: was Zorah and Eshtaol and Ir-shemesh

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 5905
1 Occurrence


šā·meš — 1 Occ.

5904
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