Nehusha

Nehusha
נְחוּשָׁה
Nehusha seen from the hill of Khirbat Umm Burj
Nehusha seen from the hill of Khirbat Umm Burj
Nehusha is located in Jerusalem
Nehusha
Nehusha
Coordinates: 31°37′43″N 34°57′8″E / 31.62861°N 34.95222°E / 31.62861; 34.95222
CountryIsrael
DistrictJerusalem
CouncilMateh Yehuda
AffiliationHapoel HaMizrachi
Founded1955
Population
 (2022)[1]
1,460
Websitewww.nechusha.org.il

Nehusha (Hebrew: נְחוּשָׁה, lit.'Steadfast') is a moshav in central Israel. Located five kilometres north-east of Beit Guvrin, it falls under the jurisdiction of Mateh Yehuda Regional Council. In 2022 it had a population of 1,460.[1]

History[edit]

The moshav was established in 1955 on the land of the depopulated Palestinian village of Umm Burj.[2] but collapsed in 1968. It was re-established in 1981. Its name is derived from the name of the Biblical town of Ir-Nachash (1 Chronicles 4:12)[3] nearby and from Psalms 18:35 (where it is translated as brass, although its meaning is steadfast or firm);

Who traineth my hands for war, so that mine arms do bend a bow of brass.

Archaeology[edit]

Underground stables

In 2004 an archaeological excavation was conducted at Nehusha by Rona Avissar on behalf of Bar Ilan University's Department of Land of Israel Studies and Archaeology.[4]

The excavation revealed about 30 entrances to rock-cut caves, 10 bell shaped caves with plastered walls, rock-cut tombs with kokhim, columbarium, agricultural facilities later to become an underground hiding complex and a stable. Pottery fragments at the site dates back to the Hasmonean dynasty, Roman and Byzantine periods and very few from the medieval period. [5]

Gallery[edit]

Nehusha's frontier

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Regional Statistics". Israel Central Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  2. ^ Khalidi, Walid (1992), All That Remains: The Palestinian Villages Occupied and Depopulated by Israel in 1948, Washington D.C.: Institute for Palestine Studies, pp. 217, 224, ISBN 0-88728-224-5,
  3. ^ Carta's Official Guide to Israel and Complete Gazetteer to all Sites in the Holy Land. (3rd edition 1993) Jerusalem, Carta, p. 361, ISBN 965-220-186-3 (English)
  4. ^ Israel Antiquities Authority, Excavators and Excavations Permit for Year 2004, Survey Permit # B-283
  5. ^ "גיליון 116 לשנת 2004חורבת קיט". www.hadashot-esi.org.il. Retrieved 2024-03-24.

External links[edit]