This large development town has become, for many religious Jews, a virtual suburb of Jerusalem. Historically, it was tied to Israel’s capital in another way.

When the Philistines took the Holy Ark from the Israelites, they were so frightened by the havoc which Heaven visited upon them that they sent the Ark back to Israel on a wagon drawn by animals without a human driver. The wagon headed for Beit Shemesh, where it was received with great rejoicing.

From Beit Shemesh the Ark was eventually carried to Kiryat Yearim, and then to Jerusalem under the direction of King David.

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