 The tanna Judah b. Jacob and the amora Jonathan (referred to in the Talmud as "Yonatan me-Bet Guvrin" or Jonathan of Bet Guvrin) were residents of the city.The Talmudic region known as Darom was within the area of Eleutheropolis ("Beit Guvrin"),
later known by its Arabic corruption "ad-Dārūm".Excavations at Eleutheropolis show a prosperous city, and confirm the presence of Jews and Christians in the area.