1 Samuel 6:9

Beth-shemesh. Literally, “the house of the sun.” There were several Palestinian cities named Beth-shemesh when Israel entered the land. It is thought that one of these, belonging to Issachar (Joshua 19:22, 23), was located on the present site known as el-‘Abeidiyeh, a short distance south of the Sea of Galilee. Another town bearing the same name belonged to the tribe of Naphtali, probably situated north west of the Sea of Galilee (see Joshua 19:38, 39; Judges 1:33). 1 Sam. 6:9 evidently refers to a third city bearing this same name, now Tell er-Rumeileh, in the inheritance of Judah (Joshua 15:10, 12), which was set aside as one of the Levitical cities of Judah (Joshua 21:13, 16; 1 Chron. 6:59). It was in the district of the son of Dekar (1 Kings 14:11, 13; 2 Chron. 25:21-23). The fact that so many sites bore this name indicates that the Canaanites were devoted worshipers of the heavenly bodies, in this case the sun. Similarly, Ur of the Chaldees and Haran were centers of moon worship.

Convinced of the supernatural power accompanying the ark, the Philistine diviners arranged for it to be sent to Beth-shemesh, the nearest priestly city of Israel. They reasoned that if the kine, unused to the yoke, left their calves behind and drew the cart directly to this Levitical stronghold, then of a surety the ark, or rather, the God of the ark, was responsible for the plague that had come upon them.