Tel Rehov (Rehov)
תל רחוב · Tel Rehov · Tell es-Sarem · Tell el-Burj
Late Bronze Age through Iron Age II (c.1550–732 BCE); LB Canaanite, Iron I–II Israelite/Aramaean, Assyrian·LB Canaanite (Rehov/Sharuhen?) → Iron I Israelite → Israelite–Aramaean contested city·🇮🇱 Northern District, Beth Shean Valley, Jordan Valley, Israel
About
About Tel Rehov (Rehov)
Largest mound in Beth Shean Valley (10 ha, 116 m below sea level summit) — biblical Rehov referenced by Shishak and Assyrians — Iron I–II city (c.1200–732 BCE) famed for apiary (30 clay hives, 10th–9th c. BCE — earliest beekeeping in Near East), massive 9th-c. BCE mudbrick fortifications and evidence for Israelite vs Aramaean destructions. Excavated by Amihai Mazar (Hebrew Univ.) 1997–2012 with 13 strata showing successive Israelite and Aram-Damascus occupations, Cypriot pottery and C14 anchor for Iron Age low chronology (Shoshenq I). Buried Iron IIA honey production under Assyrian destruction 732 BCE (Tiglath-Pileser III).
Why it mattersOnly Levantine apiary with 30 hives: proves commercial beekeeping and C14 anchor for United Monarchy low chronology; Shoshenq I synchronism.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Bees Apis mellifera — imported Anatolian bees vs local?
- 02Was Rehov Israelite or Aram-Damascus in 9th c. — same pottery?
Theories
- 01Mazar low chronology Shoshenq=I biblical support
- 02Finkelstein high chronology challenge via Rehov C14 debate
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.1550 BCE LB city; Iron I village 1200 BCE; Iron IIA town 1000 BCE with apiary 950 BCE
- Period
- Late Bronze Age through Iron Age II (c.1550–732 BCE); LB Canaanite, Iron I–II Israelite/Aramaean, Assyrian
- Culture
- LB Canaanite (Rehov/Sharuhen?) → Iron I Israelite → Israelite–Aramaean contested city
- Builders
- LB Canaanite (Rehov/Sharuhen?) → Iron I Israelite → Israelite–Aramaean contested city builders
- Purpose
- Jordan Valley valley-floor capital controlling Transjordan–Jezreel pass and honey/olive tribute route
- Abandoned
- 732 BCE Tiglath-Pileser III Assyrian destruction; Babylonian gap
- Rediscovered
- Excavated 1997–2012 Amihai Mazar (Hebrew Univ. of Jerusalem) Tel Rehov Expedition
- Excavation
- Excavated
2000
Initial work at Tel Rehov (Rehov)
2015
Stratigraphy and geophysics synthesis for Tel Rehov (Rehov)
On the ground
Structures & features
32.4570° N · 35.4980° E · -116 m · 3 mapped features
Apiary (Area C Stratum IV)
industrialIron IIA beehives (30 installations)
32.4571° N · 35.4982° ECitadel & glacis
fortificationIron II fortified upper mound
32.4570° N · 35.4980° ELower city Iron I
settlementIron I Israelite houses
32.4568° N · 35.4978° E