Proposals for Identifying the Site Locations of Ataroth, and the Arkites and Japhletites
(Joshua 16:1-3)
11 August 2001
Aharoni and Avi-Yonah were unable in their highly regarded Bible Atlas produced in 1968, and since re-printed numerous times through 1993, to suggest sites for the Archites and Japhletites who formed part of the southern border for the Israelite tribe of Joseph in Joshua 16:2-3 (cf. Map No. 73, p.53, Yohanon Aharoni and Michael Avi-Yonah, Editors. The Macmillan Bible Atlas, N.Y., [1968], 1977, ISBN 0-02-500590-1. These sites eluded the 1993 edition as well, cf. map No. 73, p.62, ISBN 0-02-500605-3).
Professor Kallai's attempt to pinpoint the location of Ataroth-adar, the Archites and Japhletites was also unsuccessful.
Kallai :
"The locations of Upper and Lower Beth-horon are universally accepted, but it is impossible to localize with the required exactitude either Ataroth-adar or the territories of the Archites and Japhletites." (p.131. "Benjamin's Allotment." Zecharia Kallai. Historical Geography of the Bible, The Tribal Territories of Israel. Jerusalem-Leiden. The Magness Press. Hebrew University. E.J. Brill. 1986)
Kallai argued that Luz (Luzah), which proceeds Ataroth-adar, the Archites and Japhletites, was "probably" just another name for Beth-el and _not_ another site following it:
"In the biblical text the name of the city, Luz, twice appears in the form of "Luzah": "And the border went over from thence to Luz (Luzah), to the shoulder of Luz (Luzah) southward, which is Beth-el". In the first case, the noun-ending "-ah" may be explained as locative, denoting direction; but its use in the second case is not explained. It may therefore, be assumed (see below, note 217) that, as in the cases of other names that appear in both forms -sometimes with the noun-ending and at other times without it- this does not invariably connote direction. Thus this line of reasoning one will see as self-explanatory theverse in Joshua xvi:2: "And goeth out from Beth-el Luzah". In other words, the intention is to define the place by both of its name rather than to state that the border went out of Beth-el to Luz." (p. 130. Kallai. 1986)
After consulting various recensions of Joshua 16:1-3, I offer some proposals for these sites which have eluded scholars for some 2,000 years.
The following proposals are based upon the similarity of names preserved in Arabic of sites to the west of Beitin, which is today identified by most scholars with Bethel. I am using the Palestine Exploration Fund Map, London, 1878, scale: 1:60,000, sheet Nos. XIV and XVII for the site proposals. It goes without saying that confirmation of these proposals must rest in the final analysis, upon archaeological surveys of this area confirming that these "proposed sites" do indeed possess Iron Age deposits, or at the very least, that a nearby site has the deposit, allowing for a "shift of names" if later replaced by a newer settlement.
The Recenscions (English Translations for the most part) :
(RSV):
"...going from BETHEL TO LUZ, it passes along to Ataroth, the territory of the Archites; then it goes down westward to the territory of the JAPHLETITES, as far as the territory of Lower Beth Horon...."
(The Peshitta -Aramaic- English translation by George M. Lamsa) :
"...from the Jordan by Jericho to the waters of Jericho on the east, into the wilderness that goes up from Jericho to mount Bethel and goes out from BETHEL TO LUZ and then passes along the border of Ebra and Ataroth, and goes down westward to the border of PALTA, as far as the border of Beth-Hauran the lower...."
The New Jerusalem Bible (1990, Catholic):
"...FROM BETHEL IT WENT TO LUZ, and on towards the frontier of the Archites at Ataroth; then passed downwards and westwards to the frontier of the JAPHELITES as far as the border of Lower Beth-Horon..."
The LXX (The Greek Septuaginta) :
"...to BAETHEL LUZA. And they will go out to Baethel, and will proceed to the borders of Archatarothi. And they will go across to the sea to the borders of APTALIM, as far as the borders of Baeth-horon the lower..."
The Vulgate (Latin):
"...quae ascendit de Hiericho ad montana Bethel et egreditur de BETHEL LUZAM transitque terminum Archiatharoth et descendit ad occidentem iuxtra terminum IEFLETHI usque ad terminos Bethoron inferioris..."
Bethel is Beitin (PEF Map, Sheet XIV, grid M/R)
Luz/Luza/Luzam (Luzah) is khirbet Ain el-Lozeh (PEF Map Sheet XIV, grid L-M/R, _west of_ Beitin)
Ebra (of the Pehsitta) is khirbet el-Bur (PEF Map, Sheet XIV, ESE of Lozeh), or possibly Bireh, East of Ram Allah ?
Ataroth is khirbet et-Tireh (PEF Map, Sheet XVII, grid L-M/S, et-Tireh is just WNW of Ram Allah)
Note: et-Tireh, Survey No. 67:16, was reported on in these words : "Most of the site is inaccessible." a single Roman sherd and 14 Byzantine were collected.
The "Archites or Arki" is probably preserved at Ain Arik (West of et-Tireh, PEF Map, Sheet XVII, grid L-M/S)
Note: No mention is made of this site in the Surveys.
According to Johnson "Archites" is rendered in Hebrew as `arki which seems to be mirrored in the Arabic Ain Arik and Wadi Arik which extends Westward from Ain Arik (cf. ABD 1.369, Siegfried S. Johnson, "Archite," 1992)
The Japhletites/Palta/Aptalim/Ieflethi is khirbet el Hafy (West of Ain Arik; PEF Map Sheet XVII, grid L/S)
Note: Khirbet el-Hafy, Survey No. 47:16 -according an archaeological surface survey made between 1982-86, sponsored by the Israel Antiquites Authority- existed in Middle Bronze (?), Iron I and Iron II(A), Late Persian/Early Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine times.(cf. p.18*, Israel Finkelstein & Yitzhak Magen, Editors. Archaeological Survey of the Hill Country of Benjamin. Jerusalem. Israel Antiquities Authority. 1993. ISBN 965-406-007-8.)
Lower Beth-Horon is Beit `Ur et-Tahta, to the West of Khirbet el Hafy (PEF Map Sheet XVII, grid K-L/S)
Note: Beit `Ur et-Tahta is no older than Iron II (cf. ABD 1.689, John L. Peterson, "Beth-Horon," 1992)
Note: The Palestine Exploration Fund Map (1878) shows a track extending northeastwards from Beit `Ur et-Tahta connecting up with khirbet el-Kereina, khirbet el Hafy, and Ain Arik. From Ain Arik this track passes north of Kefr Shiyan, and then passes the slope lying to the West of et-Tireh (the track ending at Ram Allah).The track does not go directly to et-Tireh, but by-passes it. This track in a later map is labeled as the "Ain Arik Road" (cf. "Jerusalem" B.5, 1:40,000 Scale, Survey of Egypt, April 1918). I suspect this road is in fact part of the border of Joseph and Benjamin.
Bibliography :
"The Palestine Exploration Fund Map," London, 1878, scale: 1:60,000, sheet Nos. XIV and XVII.
"Jerusalem" (B.5), 1:40,000 Scale, Survey of Egypt, April 1918.
Yohanon Aharoni and Michael Avi-Yonah, Anson F. Rainey, & Ze'ev Safrai. The Macmillan Bible Atlas, New York & Jerusalem, [1968], 1977, ISBN 0-02-500590-1; 1993 ISBN 0-02-500605-3.
Israel Finkelstein & Yitzhak Magen, Editors. Archaeological Survey of the Hill Country of Benjamin. Jerusalem. Israel Antiquities Authority. 1993. ISBN 965-406-007-8.)
David Noel Freedman, Editor. The Anchor Bible Dictionary. 6 Volumes. New York. Doubleday. 1992.
Zecharia Kallai. p.131. "Benjamin's Allotment." Historical Geography of the Bible, The Tribal Territories of Israel. Jerusalem-Leiden. The Magness Press. Hebrew University. E.J. Brill. 1986)
