Archaeology: Beth Shean

Archaeology shows that the Canaanites, and possibly the Philistines, occupied Beth Shean from the time of the Judges until Saul. Beth Shean was a city within the tribal allotment of Manasseh (Joshua 17:11). However, the Israelites did not conquer Beth Shean (Judges 1:27), and the Philistines eventually took it.

Later, King Saul and his armies fought the Philistines on Mt. Gilboa. King Saul and his sons (all but one) died in the battle. The Philistines hung the bodies of King Saul and his sons from the walls of Beth Shean (1 Samuel 31:10). Some believe that the Philistines occupied the city at or before the time of Saul.

Kyle Campbell