‘This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Judah according to their families…Halhul, Beth-zur, and Gedor’ (Joshua 15:20-58)
“They came into Idumea and encamped at Beth-zur, and Judas met them with 10,000 men… Then Judas and his brothers said, “See, our enemies are crushed; let us go up to cleanse the sanctuary and dedicate it (Maccabees 4:29-61. Recently, this event was celebrated by more than 15 million Jews worldwide as the holiday of Chanukah.)
Today we are visiting an isolated Biblical site, directly related to one of the most consequential events in Jewish history. Tourists seldom visit here though, and not many Israelis (outside of the settlements) are even aware of its existence (indeed, even online information about this wonderful town is hard to find). This incredible site though, has not only history, inspiring beauty, and panoramic views, but an intriguing story, connected to one of the greatest miracles in history!
When Joshua brought the Children of Israel into the promised land after 40 years in the desert, Karmei Tzur (then called Beit Tzur) was given to the tribe of Judah (see Joshua 15). Before Jacob passed away, he blessed Judah so that his land would be fertile, (especially with grapes) and produce an abundance of wine (see Genesis 49:11). Even today, visitors to Karmei Tzur (which literally translates as the Vineyards of Tzur) can clearly see the fruits of the blessing, with the many vineyards surrounding the town.
In 350 BCE, during the days of Ezra and Nehemiah (under the rulership of King Cyrus the Great), the Jews were allowed to return to the newly created province of Yehud (Judea) and rebuild the Temple. Although the Persians were the ultimate rulers, in practice they allowed the Jews to run the province autonomously (as long as they remained loyal to the empire).
However, the new province encompassed a much smaller area than historic Judea. Beit Tzur was on the very southern border of Yehud.
The inhabitants of the town of Beit Zur helped rebuild the walls of Jerusalem (see Nehemiah 3:16).
Image - Nosson Shulman