Beit Ur al-Fauqa
Encyclopedia
Beit Ur al-Fauqa is a Palestinian
village located in the Ramallah and al-Bireh Governorate
in the northern West Bank
, 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) east of Ramallah
and 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) southeast of Beit Ur al-Tahta
. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics
, it had a population of 864 in the 2007 census.
ite name for the village, and has been identified as the sites of Upper Bethoron. Archaeological finds indicate that Lower Bethoron (Beit Ur al-Tahta
) was established before Upper Bethoron; potsherds found in Beit Ur al-Fauqa date from the Iron Age
onward, while potsherds from the lower town date from the Late Bronze Age.
The Hasmonean
s twice blocked the way of Hellenistic
forces marching toward Jerusalem in Upper Bethoron. In the third attempt, Bacchides succeeded in subduing the Hasmoneans and fortified this strategic pass. It was in the ravines near Bethoron that the 12th Roman Legion
under Cestius Gallus
was destroyed in 66 CE at the start of the Great Jewish Revolt
. After the subjugation of the Jewish Revolt in 70 CE, the Roman
s built a fortress in the town to guard the road to Jerusalem. During the later Roman period and under the Byzantine
s, Beit Ur al-Fauqa lost its importance, becoming a small village by the 5th century CE. Eusibius mentions the two Bethorons in their Biblical contexts, noting Joshua
's victory and the fortification by King Solomon.
The village seems to have been deserted and has no mention in the early Islam
ic sources. An Arabic
inscription with a verse from the Qur'an
was found on a ruined stone structure in Beit Ur al-Fauqa and is attributed by Moshe Sharon to the Ayyubid period of rule in Palestine
, indicating that the village existed in medieval times. The modern village was merely a small hamlet until the second half of the 20th century.
, the Biblical way of Bethoron. For many centuries, the villages occupying their sites dominated one of the most historic roads in history. The ridge way of Bethoron climbs from the plain of Aijalon (the modern Yalo
) to Beit Ur al-Tahta at 370 metres (1,213.9 ft); it then carries along the ridge, with valleys lying either side, north and south, before reaching Beit Ur al Fauqa at 616 metres (2,021 ft). The ridge continues for another 8 kilometres (5 mi) arriving at the plateau to the north of al-Jib
(Gibeon).
Palestinian people
The Palestinian people, also referred to as Palestinians or Palestinian Arabs , are an Arabic-speaking people with origins in Palestine. Despite various wars and exoduses, roughly one third of the world's Palestinian population continues to reside in the area encompassing the West Bank, the Gaza...
village located in the Ramallah and al-Bireh Governorate
Ramallah and al-Bireh Governorate
The Ramallah and al-Bireh Governorate is one of 16 Governorates of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. It covers a large part of the central West Bank, on the northern border of the Jerusalem Governorate. Its district capital or muhfaza is the city of al-Bireh.According to the Palestinian Central...
in the northern West Bank
West Bank
The West Bank ) of the Jordan River is the landlocked geographical eastern part of the Palestinian territories located in Western Asia. To the west, north, and south, the West Bank shares borders with the state of Israel. To the east, across the Jordan River, lies the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan...
, 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) east of Ramallah
Ramallah
Ramallah is a Palestinian city in the central West Bank located 10 kilometers north of Jerusalem, adjacent to al-Bireh. It currently serves as the de facto administrative capital of the Palestinian National Authority...
and 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) southeast of Beit Ur al-Tahta
Beit Ur al-Tahta
Beit Ur al-Tahta is a Palestinian village located in the Seam Zone in the central West Bank, in the Ramallah and Al-Bireh Governorate. The village is located on the site of the biblical Bethoron, on a hilltop facing Beit Ur al-Foqa...
. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics
Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics
The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics is the statistical organization under the umbrella of the Palestinian Cabinet of the Palestinian National Authority....
, it had a population of 864 in the 2007 census.
History
Beit Ur al-Fauqa (meaning "Upper House of Straw") preserves part of the original CanaanCanaan
Canaan is a historical region roughly corresponding to modern-day Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, and the western parts of Jordan...
ite name for the village, and has been identified as the sites of Upper Bethoron. Archaeological finds indicate that Lower Bethoron (Beit Ur al-Tahta
Beit Ur al-Tahta
Beit Ur al-Tahta is a Palestinian village located in the Seam Zone in the central West Bank, in the Ramallah and Al-Bireh Governorate. The village is located on the site of the biblical Bethoron, on a hilltop facing Beit Ur al-Foqa...
) was established before Upper Bethoron; potsherds found in Beit Ur al-Fauqa date from the Iron Age
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
onward, while potsherds from the lower town date from the Late Bronze Age.
The Hasmonean
Hasmonean
The Hasmonean dynasty , was the ruling dynasty of Judea and surrounding regions during classical antiquity. Between c. 140 and c. 116 BCE, the dynasty ruled semi-autonomously from the Seleucids in the region of Judea...
s twice blocked the way of Hellenistic
Hellenistic civilization
Hellenistic civilization represents the zenith of Greek influence in the ancient world from 323 BCE to about 146 BCE...
forces marching toward Jerusalem in Upper Bethoron. In the third attempt, Bacchides succeeded in subduing the Hasmoneans and fortified this strategic pass. It was in the ravines near Bethoron that the 12th Roman Legion
Legio XII Fulminata
Legio duodecima Fulminata , also known as Paterna, Victrix, Antiqua, Certa Constans, and Galliena, was a Roman legion, levied by Julius Caesar in 58 BC and which accompanied him during the Gallic wars until 49 BC. The unit was still guarding the Euphrates River crossing near Melitene at the...
under Cestius Gallus
Cestius Gallus
Gaius Cestius Gallus was the son of a consul in ancient Rome and himself a suffect consul in 42.He was legate of Syria from 63 or 65. He marched into Judea in 66 in an attempt to restore calm at the outset of the Great Jewish Revolt...
was destroyed in 66 CE at the start of the Great Jewish Revolt
First Jewish-Roman War
The First Jewish–Roman War , sometimes called The Great Revolt , was the first of three major rebellions by the Jews of Judaea Province , against the Roman Empire...
. After the subjugation of the Jewish Revolt in 70 CE, the Roman
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
s built a fortress in the town to guard the road to Jerusalem. During the later Roman period and under the Byzantine
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
s, Beit Ur al-Fauqa lost its importance, becoming a small village by the 5th century CE. Eusibius mentions the two Bethorons in their Biblical contexts, noting Joshua
Joshua
Joshua , is a minor figure in the Torah, being one of the spies for Israel and in few passages as Moses's assistant. He turns to be the central character in the Hebrew Bible's Book of Joshua...
's victory and the fortification by King Solomon.
The village seems to have been deserted and has no mention in the early Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
ic sources. An Arabic
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
inscription with a verse from the Qur'an
Qur'an
The Quran , also transliterated Qur'an, Koran, Alcoran, Qur’ān, Coran, Kuran, and al-Qur’ān, is the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God . It is regarded widely as the finest piece of literature in the Arabic language...
was found on a ruined stone structure in Beit Ur al-Fauqa and is attributed by Moshe Sharon to the Ayyubid period of rule in Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
, indicating that the village existed in medieval times. The modern village was merely a small hamlet until the second half of the 20th century.
Geography
The villages of Beit Ur crown two hilltops, less than 2 miles (3.2 km) apart (with Beit Ur al-Fauqa some 245 metres (803.8 ft) higher than Beit Ur al-Tahta) along Route 443Highway 443 (Israel)
Route 443 , also Ma'ale Beit Horon , is the main highway connecting Modi'in with Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, and also serves as a secondary connection between the Tel Aviv area and Jerusalem...
, the Biblical way of Bethoron. For many centuries, the villages occupying their sites dominated one of the most historic roads in history. The ridge way of Bethoron climbs from the plain of Aijalon (the modern Yalo
Yalo
Yalo was a Palestinian Arab village located 13 kilometres southeast of Ramla. Identified by Edward Robinson as the ancient Canaanite city of Aijalon, after the 1948 Arab-Israeli war, Jordan formally annexed Yalo along with the rest of the West Bank...
) to Beit Ur al-Tahta at 370 metres (1,213.9 ft); it then carries along the ridge, with valleys lying either side, north and south, before reaching Beit Ur al Fauqa at 616 metres (2,021 ft). The ridge continues for another 8 kilometres (5 mi) arriving at the plateau to the north of al-Jib
Jib, Jerusalem
Jib is a Palestinian village in the Jerusalem Governorate, located ten kilometers northwest of Jerusalem, in the seam zone of the West Bank. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, al-Jib had a population of approximately 4,700 in 2006...
(Gibeon).