Horns of Hittim
This site is located west to Tiberias and is located on an extinct volcano. It was a biblical city (maybe Adamah which is referred in Joshua), but is best known for the battle between Saladin and the Crusaders in 1187.
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Background:
"Horns of Hittim" is a steep hill that dominates the area around it. It is an extinct volcano, and was the site of a biblical city (Adamah?). The decisive battle of the Crusaders and Saladin was held in the valley below it in 1187, signaling the beginning of the end for the Crusaders Kingdom in the Holy Land. From the site is a great view of the area and is a recommended site to visit.
Location:
The site is located on the road to Tiberias. The site was in a strategic location and was easy to defend due to its height (326M above sea). There are roads on the north and south, and the hill is higher by 300M and 125M, respectively, which is quite steep.
In ancient times the road from the sea of Galilee to the west passed north to the hill. On this ancient road was the battle between the Crusaders and the Arab armies, when the former army advanced from Sepphoris to Tiberias, in hope to break the siege off the Crusaders' fortress in the city.
In modern times the road passes to the south of it. When driving from Golani junction towards Tiberias, the hill stands out over the ridge on the left side.
On top of the hill there are traces of walls that were built around the edges. In the center of the hill is the crater, with traces of very large stones that were part of its inner defense line. In the south side of the hill, on a higher peak, are dual defense walls.
Sites around the hill:
Below the hill was the Roman and Arabic village of Hittim, now in ruins. A spring (Hittim) flows there all year long, and was the place where the thirsty Crusaders tried to get to during the battle. Near it is the holy Druze tomb (Nebe Shueb), which is according to their tradition the tombs of Jethro (father-in-law of Moses) and Zipporah (wife of Moses).
The modern agriculture village (a Moshav) of Ein-Zeitim is located north to Nebe Shueb. Another Moshav, Hittim, is located closer to Tiberias.
Aerial View:
This is the view of the area from the south-west side. The form of the crater of the extinct volcano can be easily seen on the top of the hill in the center.
Pointing on purple points will automatically scroll to the relevant photo, text or web page.
History:
This hill was inhabited from the bronze age. The city walls on the edge of the hill was built in the late bronze period (1550-1200BC). There are several attempts to identify the city:
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Madon - from Joshua 11:1 (see references below). This identification was based on the name of the ruins of Khirbet Middin, which is located near the hill.
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Shemesh Adam - a Canaanite city that is listed in the conquests of Amenhotep II (1431,1429 BC). The city then changed its name to Adamah, from Joshua 19: 36.
In the Hellenistic period (3-4C BC) the city relocated to the village under the hill - located in Khirbet Hittim. This relocation was typical to all Tells in Israel, due to the limited size and the lack of water required for a greater population.
According to some Christian traditions, this hill was the place where Jesus gave his important sermon on the mountain (Mt 5, Lk 6:20) to the multitude that assembled to see and hear him.
During the Crusaders period the biblical city on the hill was abandoned, and the knights that fled to the top during the battle could not find any water, and surrendered.
In Israel's independence war the villagers of Hittim used the hill to attack the traffic to Tiberias. They built communication trenches and fortifications on the edges of the hill. After a night attack on July 18 the Israeli forces captured the fortress.
The Battle in 1187:
The events of the battle are as follows:
| # | Date | Event | |
| 1 | July 1, 1187 | Saladin cross the Jordan | |
| 2 | July 2 (day) | Part of Saladin's army takes Tiberias, starts siege on its fortress | |
| 3 | July 2 (day) | Main part of Saladin's army camps in Kefar Sabet (east to Sede Ilan). | |
| 4 | July 2 (night) | Tiberias sends messengers to Sepphoris, asking for help | |
| 5 | July 3 (day) | Crusaders forces attacked on the way from Sepphoris to Tiberias and blocked from getting to Hittim springs (the only source of water in the area) | |
| 6 | July 3 (evening) | Crusaders camp in Mishkana (near Golani junction and east to Hittim) | |
| 7 | July 4 (dawn) | Arab forces torch the fields in attempt to block the Crusaders | |
| 8 | July 4 (moring) | Arab forces attack the thirsty and tired Crusaders below the Horns of Hittim | |
| 9 | July 4 (day) | The crusaders split their forces, making it easier for the Arabs to win the battle | |
| 10 | July 4 (evening) | Most of the Crusaders are either dead or captured | |
| 11 | July 4 (evening) | Some of the knights flee to the top of Horns of Hittim; eventually surrender there |
The following photo shows the Horns of Hittim on the right, and the place of the battle in the center. The hill in the far background is the mountain over Tiberias and the sea of Galilee.
Photos:
This is the view from the north side, on the road to Tiberias. You can drive up to a parking lot which is on the left (west) side of the mountain, then walk in from the west side (the gate of the biblical city).
Click on the photo to view it in higher resolution...
The following photo is the view of the Horns of Hittim from the west. You can see the double peaks of the hill, which is the source of the name (horns of a bull).
The road seen in the foreground is where the Crusaders were heading towards Tiberias, in an effort to remove the siege.
Biblical References:
(a) Joshua 11:1
This text lists Madon ("quarrel" in Hebrew) as one of the Canaanite cities that arranged forces against the Israelites. Madon was one of the candidates for the identification of Horns of Hittim, but this suggestion is less likely than the next one.
"And it came to pass, when Jabin king of Hazor had heard those
things, that he sent to Jobab king of Madon, and to the king
of Shimron, and to the king of Achshaph,"
(b) Joshua 19:32, 35, 36
This text describes the region of the Naphtali tribe, and the fenced city Adamah (earth in Hebrew) is another candidate for the city in the Horns of Hittim. This suggestion, by Y. Aharoni, is the preferred identification, and was also validated by the archaeological survey of the external walls on top of the hill, dating from the Israelite period (9th C BC).
"The sixth lot came out to the children of Naphtali, even for the children
of Naphtali according to their families....
...
And the fenced cities are Ziddim, Zer, and Hammath, Rakkath, and Chinnereth,
And Adamah, and Ramah, and Hazor,"
(c)Exodus 3:1
Jethro's tomb is according to the Druze tradition is located at the footsteps of the horns of Hittim:
1 Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian:
and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain
of God, even to Horeb.
(d) Matthew 5: 1,2
This text describes the sermon on the mountain (chapters 5-7), believed by some Christians to be located at the Horns of Hittim:
"And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was
set, his disciples came unto him:
And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,"
And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his
disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judaea and Jerusalem,
and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be
healed of their diseases;
(e) Luke 6:17-20 ; Luke 7:1
This is another text on Jesus sermon before the multitude, believed to be at the horns of Hittim.
18 "And they that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed.
19 And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of
him, and healed them all.
20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor:
for yours is the kingdom of God".
However, the next chapter reads:
"Now when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum."
Thus, the mountain is located near Capernaum as believed by most
Christians.
References:
Carta's Atlas of the Bible - Y. Aharoni [Carta Jerusalem 1974] - Shop for this must-have book. The author identified the Horns of Hittim with "Adamah". Maps: 72, 113
Laurence Oliphant "Haifa, or Life in Modern Palestine" His article was published on May 27 1884 with the title "Religious Druze Festival", where he tells his readers about his visit to the footsteps of the horns of Hittim, where the holy Druze tomb (nebe shueb) is located.
Etymology (behind the name):
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 Webmaster Rotem posing before the horns of Hittim, seen from the south side |
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