Land Tenure Systems in Persian-Era YehudLand Tenure Systems in Persian-Era Yehud

Dr. Diana EdelmanUniversity of Sheffield

Dr. Diana EdelmanUniversity of Sheffield

• The Postulated Boundaries of Yehud in the Persian Period• The Postulated Boundaries of Yehud in the Persian Period

Settlement Trends in YehudSettlement Trends in Yehud

372 sites that were settled in the Iron II but not in the Persian

period

154 sites with Iron IIC/D occupation and Persian occupation, possibly representing continuous settlement

108 sites newly settled in the Persian period 48 reoccupied sites that had been abandoned since Iron IIB

or earlier 60 were founded on virgin land

372 sites that were settled in the Iron II but not in the Persian

period

154 sites with Iron IIC/D occupation and Persian occupation, possibly representing continuous settlement

108 sites newly settled in the Persian period 48 reoccupied sites that had been abandoned since Iron IIB

or earlier 60 were founded on virgin land

• Sites in Yehud with Iron IIC or Iron IID and Persian Remains• Sites in Yehud with Iron IIC or Iron IID and Persian Remains

• Sites Newly Established in Yehud in the Persian Period• Sites Newly Established in Yehud in the Persian Period

REGION IRON IIC/D + PERSIAN POTTERY

NEW FOUNDATION IN THE PERSIAN PERIOD

BENJAMIN 52 27 24 VIRGIN

3 REUSED CENTRAL JUDEAN HILL COUNTRY

36 36 22 VIRGIN 14 REUSED

NORTHERN SHEPHELAH

23 16 3 VIRGIN 13 REUSED

SOUTHERN SHEPHELAH

17 22 9 VIRGIN 13 REUSED

SOUTHERN JUDEAN HILL COUNTRY

16 7 4 VIRGIN 3 REUSED

TOTAL 154 108

REGION IRON IIC/D + PERSIAN POTTERY

NEW FOUNDATION IN THE PERSIAN PERIOD

BENJAMIN 52 27 24 VIRGIN

3 REUSED CENTRAL JUDEAN HILL COUNTRY

36 36 22 VIRGIN 14 REUSED

NORTHERN SHEPHELAH

23 16 3 VIRGIN 13 REUSED

SOUTHERN SHEPHELAH

17 22 9 VIRGIN 13 REUSED

SOUTHERN JUDEAN HILL COUNTRY

16 7 4 VIRGIN 3 REUSED

TOTAL 154 108

Non- administrative Sites in Yehud in the Persian Period (262 in total)

0- 5

dunams 6- 10

dunams 11- 20

dunams 20 +

dunams No size given

76 32 45 62 47

Sites with Iron IIC/ D Occupation and Persian

Occupation (154 in total)

0- 5 dunams

6- 10 dunams

11- 20 dunams

20 + dunams

No size given

27 19 32 44 32

Sites Newly Established in the Persian Period (108 in total)

0- 5

dunams 6- 10

dunams 11- 20

dunams 20 +

dunams No size given

49 13 13 18 15

Non- administrative Sites in Yehud in the Persian Period (262 in total)

0- 5

dunams 6- 10

dunams 11- 20

dunams 20 +

dunams No size given

76 32 45 62 47

Sites with Iron IIC/ D Occupation and Persian

Occupation (154 in total)

0- 5 dunams

6- 10 dunams

11- 20 dunams

20 + dunams

No size given

27 19 32 44 32

Sites Newly Established in the Persian Period (108 in total)

0- 5

dunams 6- 10

dunams 11- 20

dunams 20 +

dunams No size given

49 13 13 18 15

Administrative Sites in Yehud in the Persian PeriodAdministrative Sites in Yehud in the Persian Period

• Roads from the Coast and the Beersheva Valley to Jerusalem• Roads from the Coast and the Beersheva Valley to Jerusalem

REGION 0-5 DUNAMS

6-10 DUNAMS

11-20 DUNAMS

OVER 20 DUNAMS

FARMSTEAD SIZED FROM DESCRIBED

REMAINS

SIZE UNKNOWN

Benjamin 37 19 16 9 49 2 Shephelah 102 49 42 45 N/A 1 Judah 0 1 0 2 N/A N/A

1. RELATIVE SIZES OF SURVEYED IRON II SITES REPRESENTING ALL PERIODS OF OCCUPATION ON SITE

REGION HELLENISTIC ROMAN BYZANTINE LATER NEVER Benjamin 59 31 25 3 12 Shephelah 41 105 71 7 15 Judah 2 1 0 0 0

2. REOCCUPATION PERIODS OF SURVEYED IRON II SITES

Benjamin 130 Shephelah 239 Judah 3 TOTAL 372

3. NUMBERS OF SURVEYED IRON II SITES WITHOUT SUBSEQUENT PERSIAN

OCCUPATION, BY REGION

REGION 0-5 DUNAMS

6-10 DUNAMS

11-20 DUNAMS

OVER 20 DUNAMS

FARMSTEAD SIZED FROM DESCRIBED

REMAINS

SIZE UNKNOWN

Benjamin 37 19 16 9 49 2 Shephelah 102 49 42 45 N/A 1 Judah 0 1 0 2 N/A N/A

1. RELATIVE SIZES OF SURVEYED IRON II SITES REPRESENTING ALL PERIODS OF OCCUPATION ON SITE

REGION HELLENISTIC ROMAN BYZANTINE LATER NEVER Benjamin 59 31 25 3 12 Shephelah 41 105 71 7 15 Judah 2 1 0 0 0

2. REOCCUPATION PERIODS OF SURVEYED IRON II SITES

Benjamin 130 Shephelah 239 Judah 3 TOTAL 372

3. NUMBERS OF SURVEYED IRON II SITES WITHOUT SUBSEQUENT PERSIAN

OCCUPATION, BY REGION

Sons of Parosh 2,172 Ezra 2:3 2,172 Neh 7:8 Sons of Shephatiah 372 Ezra 2:4 372 Neh 7:9 Sons of Arah 775 Ezra 2:5 652 Neh 7:10 Sons of Pahat-Moab= Sons of Yeshua and Joav

2,812 Ezra 2:6 2,818 Neh 7:11

Sons of Elam 1,254 Ezra 2:7 1,254 Neh 7:12 Sons of Zattu 945 Ezra 2:8 845 Neh 7:13 Sons of Zakkai 760 Ezra 2:9 760 Neh 7:14 Sons of Binnui 642 Ezra 2:10 648 Neh 7:15 Sons of Bevai 623 Ezra 2:11 628 Neh 7:16 Sons of Azgad 1,222 Ezra 2:12 2,322 Neh 7:17 Sons of Adonikam 666 Ezra 2:13 677 Neh 7:18 Sons of Bigvai 2,056 Ezra 2:14 2,067 Neh 7:19 Sons of Adin 454 Ezra 2:15 655 Neh 7:20 Sons of Ater=Hezekiah 98 Ezra 2:16 98 Neh 7:21 Sons of Hasshum 223 Ezra 2:19 328 Neh 7:22 Sons of Bezai 323 Ezra 2:17 324 Neh 7:23 Sons of Yora/Harif 112 Ezra 2:18 112 Neh 7:24 Sons of Gibbar/Gibeon 95 Ezra 2:20 95 Neh 7:25

men of Bethlehem and Netofah

Bethlehem: 123 Ezr 2:21 Netofah: 56 Ezr 2:22

188 Neh 7:26

men of Anatoth 128 Ezra 2:23 128 Neh 7:27 Men of Beth-Azmavet 42 Ezra 2:24 42 Neh 7:28 Men of Kiriath-Jearim Kefira and Beeroth

743 Ezra 2:25 743 Neh 7:29

Men of Ramah and Geba 621 Ezra 2:26 621 Neh 7:30 Men of Michmash 122 Ezra 2:27 122 Neh 7:31 Men of Bethel and Ai 223 Ezra 2:28 123 Neh 7:32 Men of (the other) Nebo 52 Ezra 2:29 52 Neh 7:33 Men of Magbish 156 Ezra 2:30 ---------------- Men of the other Elam 1,254 Ezra 2:31 1,254 Neh 7:34 Men of Harim 320 Ezra 2:32 320 Neh 7:35 Men of Jericho 345 Ezra 2:34 345 Neh 7:36 Sons of Lod, Hadid and Ono

725 Ezra 2:33 721 Neh 7:37

Sons of Senaah 3,630 Ezra 2:34 3,930 Neh 7:38

Sons of Parosh 2,172 Ezra 2:3 2,172 Neh 7:8 Sons of Shephatiah 372 Ezra 2:4 372 Neh 7:9 Sons of Arah 775 Ezra 2:5 652 Neh 7:10 Sons of Pahat-Moab= Sons of Yeshua and Joav

2,812 Ezra 2:6 2,818 Neh 7:11

Sons of Elam 1,254 Ezra 2:7 1,254 Neh 7:12 Sons of Zattu 945 Ezra 2:8 845 Neh 7:13 Sons of Zakkai 760 Ezra 2:9 760 Neh 7:14 Sons of Binnui 642 Ezra 2:10 648 Neh 7:15 Sons of Bevai 623 Ezra 2:11 628 Neh 7:16 Sons of Azgad 1,222 Ezra 2:12 2,322 Neh 7:17 Sons of Adonikam 666 Ezra 2:13 677 Neh 7:18 Sons of Bigvai 2,056 Ezra 2:14 2,067 Neh 7:19 Sons of Adin 454 Ezra 2:15 655 Neh 7:20 Sons of Ater=Hezekiah 98 Ezra 2:16 98 Neh 7:21 Sons of Hasshum 223 Ezra 2:19 328 Neh 7:22 Sons of Bezai 323 Ezra 2:17 324 Neh 7:23 Sons of Yora/Harif 112 Ezra 2:18 112 Neh 7:24 Sons of Gibbar/Gibeon 95 Ezra 2:20 95 Neh 7:25

men of Bethlehem and Netofah

Bethlehem: 123 Ezr 2:21 Netofah: 56 Ezr 2:22

188 Neh 7:26

men of Anatoth 128 Ezra 2:23 128 Neh 7:27 Men of Beth-Azmavet 42 Ezra 2:24 42 Neh 7:28 Men of Kiriath-Jearim Kefira and Beeroth

743 Ezra 2:25 743 Neh 7:29

Men of Ramah and Geba 621 Ezra 2:26 621 Neh 7:30 Men of Michmash 122 Ezra 2:27 122 Neh 7:31 Men of Bethel and Ai 223 Ezra 2:28 123 Neh 7:32 Men of (the other) Nebo 52 Ezra 2:29 52 Neh 7:33 Men of Magbish 156 Ezra 2:30 ---------------- Men of the other Elam 1,254 Ezra 2:31 1,254 Neh 7:34 Men of Harim 320 Ezra 2:32 320 Neh 7:35 Men of Jericho 345 Ezra 2:34 345 Neh 7:36 Sons of Lod, Hadid and Ono

725 Ezra 2:33 721 Neh 7:37

Sons of Senaah 3,630 Ezra 2:34 3,930 Neh 7:38

Settlers in Ezra 2 and Nehemiah 7

The king said to me, “What is your request?” With a prayer to the God of Heaven, I answered the king, “If it please the king and if your servant has found favor with you, send me to Judah, to the city of my ancestors’ graves, to rebuild it. With the consort seated at his side, the king said to me, “How long will you be gone and when will you return?” So it was agreeable to the king to send me, and I gave him a date. Then I said to the king, “If it please the king, let me have letters to the officials of the province of Across the River, directing them to grant me passage until I reach Judah; likewise, a letter to Asaph, keeper of the King’s Park, directing him to give me timber to frame the gates of the birah/fortress, which (will be) (adjacent) to the house/temple, and for the city wall and for the house/palace that I will occupy. The king gave me these, thanks to my God’s benevolent care for me. When I came to the officials of the province of Across the River, I gave them the king’s letters. The king also sent army officers and cavalry with me.

The king said to me, “What is your request?” With a prayer to the God of Heaven, I answered the king, “If it please the king and if your servant has found favor with you, send me to Judah, to the city of my ancestors’ graves, to rebuild it. With the consort seated at his side, the king said to me, “How long will you be gone and when will you return?” So it was agreeable to the king to send me, and I gave him a date. Then I said to the king, “If it please the king, let me have letters to the officials of the province of Across the River, directing them to grant me passage until I reach Judah; likewise, a letter to Asaph, keeper of the King’s Park, directing him to give me timber to frame the gates of the birah/fortress, which (will be) (adjacent) to the house/temple, and for the city wall and for the house/palace that I will occupy. The king gave me these, thanks to my God’s benevolent care for me. When I came to the officials of the province of Across the River, I gave them the king’s letters. The king also sent army officers and cavalry with me.

Sites Newly Established in Yehud in the Persian PeriodSites Newly Established in Yehud in the Persian Period