03/03/2022
Nice view from the Hebron Mountains over the Judean desert isn’t it?
Does it have also an historical significance? Yes
First, at the foot of the hill you see Tel Creot which according to archeologists mightvhave been the Biblical town of Kerioth (Cariot/Kariot).
Remnats have been identified from Israelite times and Byzantine times.
Secondly this is the place where, according to the Biblical tradition, the twelve spies, in Joshua’s time came upto the Hebron mountains on their way to Hebron.
Joshua 15:25 And Hazor, Hadattah, and Kerioth, and Hezron, which is Hazor.
Num. 13:17 And Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said to them, Go up this way southward, and go up into the mountain’
Interestingly the Hebrew word for ‘to spy out’ in the Torah is ‘לתור’ le-tour’, to tour. The same word we use nowadays for tourists touring the land. Tourists come and see the land. The borders are open now again and we welcome all tourist to come and visit and see our amazing land.
