joseph tomb joseph tomb hebrew arabic monument located eastern entrance valley separates metres northwest jacob outskirts city near tell site later biblical biblical tradition identifies general area resting place biblical patriarch joseph sons joseph tomb ages jews christians muslims post biblical records location site date beginning 4th century present structure small rectangular room dates devoid trace ancient building materials scholars essential biblical account joseph argue story basis fact modern scholarship determine present identified ancient biblical jewish christian sources prior 5th century mention tomb structure originally erected appears built probably sacred site archaeological evidence establishing tomb joseph reason site regarded tomb established later religious figures reinforce faith key points long history witnessed intense conflict christians access title site early byzantine period engaged violent clashes israel captured muslims prohibited worship shrine gradually turned jewish prayer room friction conflict competing jewish muslim claims tomb frequent falling jurisdiction following signing oslo remained guard muslims prohibited praying beginning handed looted razed palestinian mob following israel jewish groups returned intermittently structure refurbished new installed visits jewish resumed early traditions biblical source early religious traditions provides details traditions surrounding remains account genesis relates death brothers swear carry bones egypt said placed coffin egypt exodus told moses fulfilled pledge taking joseph bones left egypt bones said brought egypt interred bones joseph brought egypt buried parcel land jacob bought sons father pieces silver bible identify specific site bones laid rest genesis jewish text written states burial site nations world ridicule israel stolen having purchased jacob suggest joseph instructed brothers bury taken sold slavery jewish sources buried according tradition interred according wishes ambiguity reflected islamic tradition points authentic site early islamic identified cave housing tomb mention details joseph burial ali conserve traditions later muslim mention site authentic tomb near tradition reflected medieval christian sources account says bones joseph buried rest castle modern scholarship narrative bones traditional biblical date narrative life death places egypt middle twelfth dynasty roughly comparable invasion egypt contemporary scholarship longer accepts remote dating figure joseph taken tribe historic person according bible joseph buried coffin egypt having people swear carry bones away later identify royal cast moses said gathered bones taken exodus egypt magic raise coffin tradition repeated buried time burial evident portion joseph received near town majority contemporary scholars believe events joseph story demonstrated wake scholars like identified story joseph primarily literary composition widely considered belong genre romance read reworking legends myths especially motifs associated egyptian god compare burial bones disposal bones reworked legends folklore probably inserted developing tradition bible 8th 6th centuries bce scholars place composition genre flourished persian period exile tradition joseph burial understood secondary historical interpretation woven ancient shrine area wright argued patriarch joseph hero egyptian hypothesis starting analysis john jesus encounters woman town extensive analysis ancient sources examination site curiosity gospel text scholars lies mention town field failure text refer despite mentioning field jacob allotted joseph jacob view beginning period 1st century author john gospel presumably writing grave commemorating joseph stood jacob grave shifted sacred tree jacob field date earliest testimony history identification use site accounts notes foot mountain place called tomb joseph laid parcel ground jacob father gave 4th century records city jacob deserted place pointed suburb tomb joseph pointed nearby writing palestine writes turning way jacob saw tombs byzantine monk lived years palestine wrote joseph included buried ordered search bones utter dismay community imperial commission dispatched retrieve bones failing obtain sought secure bones marked exact site possibly removed avoid christian interference officials general area graves finding intact marble beneath coffin concluded contain bones sent byzantium incorporated reports apparently christians intended remove joseph bones city column fire rose tomb away subsequently covered tomb earth rendering inaccessible christian mentions close jacob remains 6th century site somewhat legend joseph usual holy accompanying mentions saints lacking medieval sources generally according highly misleading exactly tomb situated concluded middle ages earlier groups jews christians different periods identified different things different places tomb spring indicated following examples identify tomb structure spring tree evidently site muslim pilgrimage time persian traveller paid homage tomb wrote near spring field joseph joseph buried foot tree place year wrote spring called joseph peace buried tomb known lying tree benjamin wrote possession william describes white marble brothers ben writes saw tomb joseph son jacob marble pillars head foot low stone wall surrounding places joseph meters north associate church jacob jacob paris locate tomb joseph monument west halfway city mention existence reports refer currently recognised location samuel ben appears place tomb indications vague describes located small mosque fit present location mention details joseph burial islamic tradition points authentic site early islamic identified cave housing tomb ali report traditions mention existence tomb joseph later muslim mention site authentic tomb near 19th century accounts describes biblical parcel ground jacob gave joseph situated plain identifies tomb oriental structure entrance valley right near base suggests lies underneath vicinity plain comments present monument place resort jews christians belief stands spot patriarch buried jewish traveller based identification tomb near jacob argument scripture argued calls place valley plain portion field concluded palestine plot found dead level hollow swelling circuit hours recorded jews frequently visited tomb inscriptions hebrew visible walls site kept neat good repair bounty jews visited writes tomb lies yards north jacob valley describes small solid erection form wagon roof supposed patriarch grave small pillar altar called tombs middle enclosure covering visitors names hebrew characters written walls enclosure inscriptions said intimate tomb repair jew egypt son wilson adds jews duty keeping tomb order applied subscription aid making repairs complied request hebrew inscriptions visible white walls late small lamps internal probably donated jews 18th 19th centuries lived palestine years identified village english miles east site joseph lies buried western travellers palestine 19th century described impressions site writes visited reputed site joseph tomb rude stone building covers pretended best authorities deny evidence joseph buried visited site designated called tomb joseph describing plain white tomb seen countries consequently lacks usual white dome interior vine grows corner spreads tomb forming pleasant describe small chapel said tomb joseph noting east arabs called jacob noted tomb placed walls instead parallel found walls interior covered names pilgrims representing land language hebrew character prominent noted entire building fast ruin presenting melancholy spectacle exposed weather offering kind marks respect seen insignificant muslim saints late 19th century sources report jewish custom burning small articles gold lace low pillars end tomb memory patriarch sleeps beneath detailed survey provides detailed description site works tent work palestine survey western palestine palestine enclosure located road end row fine trees open courtyard surrounding tomb measures foot square walls foot thick good repair stand foot high entrance courtyard north ruin little square building hebrew inscriptions south wall additional english inscription notes structure entirely rebuilt expense english consul damascus early tomb measures foot long stands foot high consisted long narrow block arched roof having pointed cross section tomb line walls courtyard bearing middle enclosure nearest west wall short shallow cup shaped tops stand head foot tomb fire jewish custom burning offerings gold lace pillar jews burn oil lamps pillar cavity questions fact tomb points north south inconsistent muslim tombs north fact diminish muslim shrine tomb points approximately north south right angles direction tombs north explain disregard orientation respected prophet lord joseph heard rule held established time shrine held events diminished fact confusion competing shrine course pin pointing location tomb reverend sir dictionary bible mentions existence tombs bearing association joseph addition close location survey describes exclusively muslim tomb vicinity quarter mile valley slope able conclude tombs biblical joseph cites muslim tomb later joseph commemorated sanctuary stanley writes little mosque north eastern slopes known names including oak saint pillar suggests commemorate traditions stanley quotes buckingham mentions maintain alternative tomb belongs certain writes claims tomb belonging structure called pillar commemoration pillar set mills identifies supposed tomb mosque named muslim saint saint pillar claims association modern invention book published questions existence tomb calling legend imposed travellers guides present known joseph tomb generally accepted 1860s jews muslims come limestone structure housing tomb biblical joseph referred arabic tomb prophet joseph decorative cloth photographed tomb asserted perception said regard site burial place islamic claimed tradition innovation response israeli control site 1970s tomb located field village outskirts local residents apparently believed structure 19th century reputed healed sick reciting verses building function mosque childless couples pray children young boys ritual inside capture rest palestinian territories war jewish settlers began frequent site muslims prohibited visiting site stabbed settlers demonstrated taking joseph tomb days bid force government hand iron fist mid-1980s named affiliated militant jewish settlements headed built site military outpost apparently model success establishing presence tomb muslims including living nearby denied access initial attempt transform site jewish religious centre failed minister culture education government outraged religious activists time asserting basis evidence site years old tomb holy man died 18th century views challenged replied experts traditional brought prayer niche facing covered site declared religious tradition surrounding story joseph site settlers received protection transform place muslim worship lasting hours imposed inhabitants allow group settlers members pray site traditional anniversary joseph death 27th hundreds jews arrive site december accordance oslo jurisdiction handed israel retained control religious sites situation area returned worked enhance status joseph tomb centre pilgrimage interim agreement stipulated sides shall respect protect religious rights jews christians muslims concerning protection free access holy sites freedom worship practice tomb resembling fortified military post small functioning frequent flash point september called events western wall riots opening exit interpreted signal sending israel sole sovereign jerusalem called general strike wave protests broke clashes killed wounded israeli soldiers killed tomb parts adjacent jews continued worship site limited protection dressed civilians easily mistaken settlers site attacked gun fire hundreds palestinian stormed compound israeli border control took control compound palestinian security services requested control positions control passed palestinian security services following hours mob cars outside compound entered tomb removed tree known image tree taken year half asked government evacuate tomb september wake controversial visit broke turned conflict zone governor son shot dead clash israeli soldiers targeted site reportedly grounds better shrine belong appropriated religion burning ground books painting dome green act led retaliation jewish vandalism death israeli border policeman head southern command brigadier general threatened resign government kept control tomb retaining control illegal prime minister eventually complied request site handed palestinian police october israeli newspapers framed return site defeat nation tomb palestinian protesters hours evacuation morning bullet body cousin senator found outskirts gone check damage tomb embodied key theme return exile homeland palestinian assault interpreted challenging credibility claims site began repair day palestinian spokesperson claimed judaism connection tomb fabricated mayor reported saying jewish permitted pray international organization party determines site holy jews israeli military officials said intended build mosque ruins site statement came workers repairing tomb painted site dome green colour islam spokesman denied allegations said ordered renovations rebuilt mayor claimed city officials simply wanted return building way looked came israeli hands war intense international pressure dome white events october prohibited israeli access tomb result april severe damage historic core city heritage buildings suffered damage destroyed began advantage new circumstances visit site cover darkness army police eventually tomb open visits israeli soldiers mistakenly opened fire convoy settlers taking advantage ongoing visit tomb seven settlers arrested army illegally entering combat zone result tomb shortly response numerous requests renewed guarded tours tomb day month midnight visitors allowed pray visits designed prevent unauthorized unprotected clandestine visits mainly october citing security reasons israel imposed ban jewish pilgrims obtaining special permits travelling tomb february reported grave tree entrance broken car parts trash tomb huge hole dome leader notified lobbied government ministers said plans secure guard site claiming action costly february thirty members wrote army asking open jewish visitors prayer visited site time years later year group found cleaned past years site suffered neglect appearance deteriorated garbage dumped tires burned early group wrote letter prime minister asking tomb renovated completely shattered holy site manner likes seen israel world february reported israel officially ask carry repairs tomb response set tires fire inside tomb december jewish workers funded anonymous donors painted walls built shattered stone marker covering grave monthly visits tomb bullet proof vehicles heavy protection organised based organization late april group jewish found smashed painted walls boot prints grave august reported reached agreement site israel chief visited prayed tomb visit high ranking israeli delegation years april police officers opened fire cars israeli finished praying joseph tomb israeli citizen killed wounded fatality identified nephew culture minister ordered investigations incident according initial investigation cars entered compound joseph tomb coordination israeli military palestinian security forces tried break police investigation concluded palestinian police officers acted intent harm jewish chief staff added fired justification immediate threat lives july tried burn joseph tomb protesting security forces able stop protesters able burn december jews visiting tomb light candles jewish holiday discovered site lights broken electrical cut time jews allowed visit tomb month october amid wave violence dozens overran tomb group set fire petrol bombs palestinian security forces dispersed extinguished flames tomb apparently damaged women section reported heavily damaged israeli security forces later arrived scene according palestinian official attempted set area prevent home group proceeded attack tomb night october group jews instruction went tomb permits standing order clean paint compound burned days attacked local bruised vehicles burnt claimed palestinian police detained beaten handed israeli army called extract
Joseph's Tomb