Harbetsuvan Tepe | Another Gobekli Tepe Discovered
About 7 km SW of Karahan Tepe, new research and excavation at Harbetsuvan Tepesi seems to link it to the very builders of Gobekli Tepe. Since the discovery of Gobekli Tepe, surface surveys have shown that several hills in the greater area also have T-shap
2019-09-18 18:00:00 - Chuck
Tribe of Judah
According to the biblical account, at its height, the Tribe of Judah was the leading tribe of the Kingdom of Judah, and occupied most of the territory of the kingdom, except for a small region in the north east occupied by Benjamin, and an enclave towards the south west which was occupied by Simeon. Bethlehem and Hebron were initially the main cities within the territory of the tribe.
The lion is the symbol of the Tribe of Judah. It is often represented in Jewish art, such as this sculpture outside a synagogue. The size of the territory of the tribe of Judah meant that in practice it had four distinct regions:
The Negev (Hebrew: south) - the southern portion of the land, which was highly suitable for pasture.
The Shephelah (Hebrew: lowland) - the coastal region, between the highlands and the Mediterranean sea, which was used for agriculture, in particular for grains.
The wilderness – the barren region immediately next to the Dead Sea, and below sea level; it was wild, and barely inhabitable, to the extent that animals and people which were made unwelcome elsewhere, such as bears, leopards, and outlaws, made it their home. In biblical times, this region was further subdivided into three sections - the wilderness of En Gedi (1 Samuel 24:1), the wilderness of Judah (Judges 1:16), and the wilderness of Maon (1 Samuel 23:24).
The hill country - the elevated plateau situated between the Shephelah and the wilderness, with rocky slopes but very fertile soil. This region was used for the production of grain, olives, grapes, and other fruit, and hence produced oil and wine.