ABSTRACT
Beth-Shean (also spelled “Beth-Shan,” see 1 Sam. 31: 10, 12; 2 Sam. 21: 12) means “house/temple” of “Shan” and most likely refers to an otherwise unknown deity after whom the biblical city was named. Known today as Tell el-Husn, the ancient ruin is located on the eastern end of the Jezreel Valley some two-and-a-half to three miles west of the Jordan River (see Figure 15). It is about 18 miles south of the Sea of Galilee. Its modern Arabic name, Beisan, reflects the original Beth-Shean. However, during the Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine periods the name of the site was Nysa Scythopolis.
