Abila (Peraea)

Shittim, or Abelshittim (Hebrew: אָבֵל הַשִּׁטִּים ' Abel haššiṭṭîm; Greek: Βελσαττιμ; Latin: Belsattim ) is called in the Old Testament place with the meaning " meadow of the Acacia ." The exact location of the place is unknown.

Biblical mention

According to the Biblical narrative, the Exodus group encamped after the walk through Transjordan between Bethjesimoth and Abelshittim. From there, scouts were sent to the West Bank. After their return, the Exodus group breaks up under the leadership of Joshua to cross the Jordan and take possession of the Promised Land.

In the literature, some believed that the name Shittim, in contrast to place Abelshittim not referring to a place, but to a region and potentially could be identical to the " plains of Moab ". This is suggested that the camp of the Israelites can hardly have been pushing for such a tight space. The distinction between mandatory Abelshittim and Shittim is not.

Except Biblical References

Josephus mentions the place Abelshittim repeated in the short form Αβελα or Αβιλη. According to him, the place Abila is 60 stadia from the Jordan and lies between Beth- Mimra and Beth- Haram.

Without further location information Abelshittim is still called in the Zenon papyri. The Church Fathers Jerome and Eusebius of Caesarea mention the place, but with a non-unique localization.

According to the Jerusalem Talmud, Tractate Schevi'it 36c, 14f, the place to be 12 miles from Bethjesimoth away.

Localization

Neither the name Abelshittim or Shittim, Abila still be found in today's place names again. Due to the interpretation of the name as " floodplain of the acacia " is much to suggest that the place to look is in the then wooded hill country of Moab. Today, the site is identified as a rule either with the Tell el- kefren or with the Tell el- Hammam.

Tell el- kefren

The Tell el- kefren rises on a rocky, set off from the surrounding hills. This overlooks the environment by about 40 m. One can therefore see from here the whole surrounding area. In the rock-cut grave sites and caves can be found on the west and east side of the mound. Pottery can be divided into the Iron Age to the early Roman period.

The ceramic findings of the neighboring village Khirbet el- kefren has the Roman to Arabic era. This respect is some evidence the Roman-Byzantine city Abila to locate here.

Tell el- Hammam

In the Tell el- Hammam is a 140 x 25 m large fortress with about 1.2 m thick ramparts. The pottery found can be dated to the Iron Age I and II. The fortress is situated on a strategically important location, as monitored from here the roads on the plateau and can control the Wādī el- kefren.

Result

Therefore, there is some evidence that the settlement mound of Tell el - Hammam can be equated with the biblical Abel - Shittim. Because from here can be the rising of the Moab Plateau as well as the water supply of the Wādī el- kefren control. Not least because of this strategic advantages a fortress was built here as early as the Iron Age.