Information about the Nabi Samuel Park itself will be provided after this announcement
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Your tour guide
Zahi Shaked
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Nabi Samuel Park is a fascinating combination of antiquities, agricultural terraced landscapes, mountain spring, and orchards. At the heart of the site is a large building from the Crusader period, containing the tomb of the prophet Samuel
Surveys and excavations carried out at the site on behalf of the Judea and Samaria archaeology staff officer have uncovered pottery from the time of the First Temple (8th century BCE and on), and Second Temple (2nd century BCE). These discoveries reinforce identification of the site as the biblical Mitsppa – the place where the prophet Samuel judged Israel (I Samuel 7:5-6).
In 165 BCE, Judah Maccabee assembled his forces at Mitsppa before the battle against the Greek commander Gorgias: “Then they gathered together and went to Mitsppa, opposite Jerusalem, because Israel formerly had a place of prayer in Mitsppa” (1 Maccabees 3:46). Judah deceived Gorgias with a brilliant military diversion maneuver: while the main Greek force was looking for Judah’s army in the night, Judah went down to Emmaus, near Latrun of today, and destroyed the Greek camp.
In the Byzantine period (6th century CE) a monastery was built at the site in honor of Samuel, and during the early Arab period the place was known as Dir Samwil (the Samuel Monastery). In 1099, during the first Crusades, the Crusaders had their first sight of Jerusalem from here, and so they called it Montis Gaudi – Mountain of Joy. During the Crusader period a stout fortress was built on an area of 100 x 50 m. Today, a mosque from the Mameluke period (14th century) is incorporated in the church of the fortress. There was also a Jewish synagogue in the settlement that existed here during the Mameluke and Ottoman periods (until 1730).
The park covers an area of 3500 dunams, and it includes fascinating antiquities, a terraced agricultural landscape, mountain springs and orchards. At the heart of the site is a large building from the Crusader period, containing the tomb of the prophet Samuel. From the roof of the building is one of the most breathtaking vistas in Israel.
The site is open to visitors throughout the day, other than between 2 am – 4 am.
Guided tours can be arranged for groups through the Samaria Education Center, tel: 03-7942481.
Reasons for declaration
The site is sacred to Jews, Muslims and Christians
Archaeological remains dating to First Temple times and on
Traditional mountain agriculture landscapes
A battle heritage site from the War of Independence
