Hill of Phinehas

The Hill of Phinehas is a location described in the Bible Joshua 24:33 as being the burial place of Eleazar and Ithamar.

It is associated with the location of the village of Awarta in the West Bank.^[1] In the early 18th century, the site was purchased by a Samaritan, Abraham Danafi, to be used by the community.^[2]

Large tombs in the town have been attributed to the burial sites of Aaron's sons Ithamar and Eleazar. His grandson Phinehas is believed to be buried at the site alongside his son Abishua — the latter is especially revered by the Samaritans, who believe that he wrote the Torah. The seventy Elders are believed to be buried in a cave near Phinehas' tomb. On the western side of Awarta lies the tomb Muslims attribute to Nabi Uzeir, Ezra the scribe.^[3]

References[edit]

^ Ben-Yosef, Sefi [in Hebrew] (1980). "Awarta". In David Grossman (ed.). Israel Guide - The Northern Valleys, Mount Carmel and Samaria (A useful encyclopedia for the knowledge of the country) (in Hebrew). Vol. 8. Jerusalem: Keter Publishing House. pp. 345–347. OCLC 745203905. There are three local cult centers in the area of Awarta. The westernmost of them is Tel er-Rās, also called en-Nabi 'Uzair. According to Muslim tradition, this is the grave of Ezra the Scribe. According to Jewish tradition, which also holds sacred the burial site at the top of the hill, the place is called Giv'at Phinehas (the hill of Phinehas) and it is where the High Priest Eleazar ben Aaron was buried (Joshua 24:33)
^ Rozen, Minah (1998). "Samaritans and Karaites". In Cohen, Amnon (ed.). The History of Eretz Israel under the Mamluk and Ottoman rule (1260-1804) (in Hebrew). Jerusalem: Ben-Zvi Institute and Keter Publishers. p. 258. OCLC 745378097.
^ Biblical Holy Places: An Illustrated Guide (2000) Gonen, Rikva. Paulist Press. pp.44-45. ISBN 978-0-8091-3974-3

Bibliography[edit]

[1] Ben-Yosef, Sefi [in Hebrew] (1980). "Awarta". In David Grossman (ed.). Israel Guide - The Northern Valleys, Mount Carmel and Samaria (A useful encyclopedia for the knowledge of the country) (in Hebrew). Vol. 8. Jerusalem: Keter Publishing House. pp. 345–347. OCLC 745203905. There are three local cult centers in the area of Awarta. The westernmost of them is Tel er-Rās, also called en-Nabi 'Uzair. According to Muslim tradition, this is the grave of Ezra the Scribe. According to Jewish tradition, which also holds sacred the burial site at the top of the hill, the place is called Giv'at Phinehas (the hill of Phinehas) and it is where the High Priest Eleazar ben Aaron was buried (Joshua 24:33)

[:0-2] Rozen, Minah (1998). "Samaritans and Karaites". In Cohen, Amnon (ed.). The History of Eretz Israel under the Mamluk and Ottoman rule (1260-1804) (in Hebrew). Jerusalem: Ben-Zvi Institute and Keter Publishers. p. 258. OCLC 745378097.

[Gonen-3] Biblical Holy Places: An Illustrated Guide (2000) Gonen, Rikva. Paulist Press. pp.44-45. ISBN 978-0-8091-3974-3

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