Reconsidering the Ancient name of Nebi Samwil. (2nd October 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Na'aman, Nadav
• Is Part Of: Palestine exploration quarterly. Volume 151:Number 3/4(2019)
• Page Start: 202
• Page End: 217
• Publication Date: 2019-10-02
• Subjects: Nebi Samwil -- Ramah/Ramathaim -- Mizpah -- Benjaminite town-list -- book of Nehemiah -- list of Returnees -- list of villages (חצרים) -- Judas Maccabeus; Excavations (Archaeology) -- Palestine -- Periodicals; Palestine -- Antiquities -- Periodicals; Fouilles (Archéologie) -- Palestine -- Périodiques; Palestine -- Antiquités -- Périodiques; Archeologie; 5.225; 930.1
• DOI: 10.1080/00310328.2019.1684772
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0031-0328

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This article investigates the early name of Nebi Samwil, a prominent site located northwest of Jerusalem. It first presents the results of the archaeological excavations conducted at the site. Then, it examines the late sources, which indicate that from the sixth century CE onward, the place was identified as Ramathaim/Arimathea, the birth and burial place of Samuel. The article suggests that Nebi Samwil was called Ramah since its foundation (the mid-seventh century BCE ) and is mentioned once in the list of Benjaminite villages (Neh 11:33). Due to its prominent place and its location in an area inhabited for thousands years by Semites, its ancient name was preserved, although the site was deserted for a long time. After Arcadius transferred Samuel's bones from Ramathaim (Rentis) to Thrace, the tradition of Samuel's grave was transferred to Ramah (Nebi Samwil), and since then the place was considered Samuel's birthplace.