Bayt Nuba | |
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Arabic | بيت نوبا |
Name meaning | "House of Nuba" |
Also spelled | Bait Nuba, Beit Nubah, Beit Nouba |
Subdistrict | Ramle |
Coordinates | 31°51′12″N 35°1′57″E / 31.85333°N 35.03250°ECoordinates: 31°51′12″N 35°1′57″E / 31.85333°N 35.03250°E |
Date of depopulation | 7 June 1967 (?) |
Cause(s) of depopulation | Expulsion by Israeli forces |
Current localities | Mevo Horon |
Bayt Nuba (Arabic: بيت نوبا) was a Palestinian Arab village, located halfway between Jerusalem and al-Ramla. Historically identified with the biblical city of Nob mentioned in the Book of Samuel, that association has been eschewed in modern times. The village is mentioned in extrabiblical sources including the writings of 5th-century Roman geographers, 12th-century Crusaders and a Jewish traveller, a 13th-century Syrian geographer, a 15th-century Arab historian, and Western travellers in the 19th century. Depopulated by Israeli forces during the 1967 war, it was subsequently leveled by military engineers using controlled explosions, and the Israeli settlement of Mevo Horon was established on its lands in 1970.
In Eusebius of Caesarea's 5th century Onomasticon, the village is mentioned under the name Beth Annabam and is situated at a distance of 8 Roman miles from Lydda. His contemporary, Jerome, identifies it as biblical Nob.
During the Crusades, it was called Betynoble. The Crusaders identified Beit Nuba with biblical Nob, as did the 12th-century Jewish traveller Benjamin of Tudela. The village served as the forward position for Saladin's troops for their move towards Jerusalem in September 1187 and later for Richard the Lionheart and his troops who camped there in 1191 and 1192.