Umm Tuba
31°44′N 35°14′E / 31.733°N 35.233°E
Umm Tuba (Arabic: أم طوبا) is an Arab neighborhood in East Jerusalem near Sur Baher, northeast of Bethlehem, with a population of 4,000. After the 1967 Six-Day War, Umm Tuba was incorporated into the municipal district of Jerusalem.[1] Based on archaeological finds, Umm Tuba was the site of the biblical city of Netophah.
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[edit] Etymology
The name of the Arab village, "Umm Tuba," is derived from the Byzantine era name, "Metofa," itself a derivation of the ancient Hebrew name Netofa. Netofa is mentioned in the Bible as the place from which two of King David's heroes originated (2 Samuel 23:28-29).[2]
[edit] Early history
Netofa was a prosperous Judean farming village in the period of the First Temple.[2] An archaeological dig uncovered at least three royal seal impressions dating from the reign of Hezekiah, King of Judah (eighth century BCE). At least two "LMLK" (belonging to the King) impressions and two personal seal impressions were discovered on handles of large jars of the type used to store wine and olive oil.[2] Artifacts dating to the Hasmonean period and remnants of a Byzantine-era monastery have also been found.[2]
In 1596, Umm Tuba appeared in Ottoman tax registers as being in the Nahiya of Quds of the Liwa of Quds. It had a population of 36 Muslim households and paid taxes on wheat, barley, olives, vines or fruit trees, and goats or beehives.[3]
[edit] Biblical references
Two of King David's heroes came from Netofa (2 Samuel 23:28-29). Fifty-six men from Netofa are recorded at the census of men of Israel upon return from exile (Ezra 2:22). In (Nehemiah 7:27,) they are counted together with the men of Bethlehem: The men of Bethlehem and Netophah, an hundred fourscore and eight.
[edit] Demography
In 2008, Prof. Tamar Rapoport and Afnan Masarwah of the Hebrew University presented their research on changing perspectives of motherhood, children and family relationships among women in Umm Tuba.[4]
[edit] Notable residents
[edit] References
- ^ WAC at Separation Wall in Jerusalem
- ^ a b c d Royal seal impressions from the First Temple period discovered south of Jerusalem, 23 Feb 2009 [1]
- ^ Wolf-Dieter Hütteroth and Kamal Abdulfattah (1977). Historical Geography of Palestine, Transjordan and Southern Syria in the Late 16th Century. Erlanger Geographische Arbeiten, Sonderband 5. Erlangen, Germany: Vorstand der Fränkischen Geographischen Gesellschaft. p. 117.
- ^ NCJW Research Institute for Innovation in Education
- ^ Hamas' hair apparent, Haaretz
