Lesson plan
Bethmaus
Bethmaus, ( ) or Beth Maʿon ( ), also called Maon, was a Jewish village during the Late Second Temple and Mishnaic periods, tentatively identified with the site of Nasir ad-Din by Guérin (1875) and with Tell Maʿūn slightly west of it by Kitchener (1881). Ishtori Haparchi had situated it in 1322 upon the hill directly north-west of the city of Tiberias, at a distance of one biblical mile, rising to an elevation of above sea-level. It is now incorporated within the modern city bounds of Upper Tiberias. The remaining historical structure at the site is a sheikh's tomb. Some modern researchers place the ancient Bethmaus (Ma'on) at the site of the ruined Arab village of Khirbet Nadhr ad-Din or Kh. Naṣr ad-Din, saying that with the passing of time, the old namesake was transferred to Tell Maʿūn, a short distance away. The Midrash (Genesis Rabba § 85:7) says of the village, "Beth Maʿon, they ascend to it from Tiberias, but they go down to it from Kefar Shobtai." The Jerusalem Talmud, citing a variant account, says that they would go down to Beth Maʿon from its broad place.
Article summary
Bethmaus, ( ) or Beth Maʿon ( ), also called Maon, was a Jewish village during the Late Second Temple and Mishnaic periods, tentatively identified with the site of Nasir ad-Din by Guérin (1875) and with Tell Maʿūn slightly west of it by Kitchener (1881). Ishtori Haparchi had situated it in 1322 upon the hill directly north-west of the city of Tiberias, at a distance of one biblical mile, rising to an elevation of above sea-level. It is now incorporated within the modern city bounds of Upper Tiberias. The remaining historical structure at the site is a sheikh's tomb. Some modern researchers place the ancient Bethmaus (Ma'on) at the site of the ruined Arab village of Khirbet Nadhr ad-Din or Kh. Naṣr ad-Din, saying that with the passing of time, the old namesake was transferred to Tell Maʿūn, a short distance away. The Midrash (Genesis Rabba § 85:7) says of the village, "Beth Maʿon, they ascend to it from Tiberias, but they go down to it from Kefar Shobtai." The Jerusalem Talmud, citing a variant account, says that they would go down to Beth Maʿon from its broad place.
Key claims
No claims recorded.
Discussion questions
- Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
- Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
- If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?
Bibliography
No sources recorded.
Key claims and bibliography are generated from the same tracked claims and sources as the article page.