Beth Shan the Tel

The tel of Beth Shan was first settled in the fifth millennium BC. It was located at a major east/west and north/south crossroad. There are at least 20 strata on the mound. From the Late Bronze Age (1550–1200 BC) discoveries include 5 temples, built on top of another, public and residential buildings, a governor's house, and basalt monuments from the time of Egyptian rule.

Beth Shan was allotted to the tribe of Manasseh and was located in or near Issachar (Josh 17:11; 1 Chron 7:29) but Manasseh was not able to drive out the inhabitants of the city (Josh 17:16; Judg 1:27). It became a Philistine stronghold and the bodies of Saul and Jonathan were hung on the wall (1 Sam 31:10, 12; 2 Sam 21:12). It was located in 5th Solomonic district (1 Kgs 4:12). Eventually the Assyrians captured and destroyed the city about 733 BC.