קבר בני חזיר | |
 Benei Hezir tomb (western facade) | |
 Interactive map of Tomb of Benei Hezir | |
| Location | Kidron Valley,Jerusalem |
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| Coordinates | 31°46′35.21″N35°14′20.87″E / 31.7764472°N 35.2391306°E /31.7764472; 35.2391306 |
| Type | Burial tomb |
| History | |
| Founded | 2nd century BCE |
| Site notes | |
| Condition | Partially preserved |
| Ownership | Public |
| Management | Israel Antiquities Authority |
| Public access | Yes |
TheTomb of Benei Hezir (Hebrew:קבר בני חזיר), previously known as theTomb of Saint James, is the oldest of fourmonumental rock-cut tombs that stand in theKidron Valley inJerusalem, adjacent to theTomb of Zechariah and a few meters from theTomb of Absalom. It dates to theSecond Temple period. It is a complex of burial caves. The tomb was originally accessed from a single rock-cut stairwell which descends to the tomb from the north. At a later period an additional entrance was created by quarrying a tunnel from the courtyard of the monument known as "the Tomb of Zechariah". This is also the contemporary entrance to the burial complex.
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The facade of the tomb is a classicaldistyle in antis with two pillars between two pilasters above which there is undecorated architrave containing an engraved a Hebrew inscription. Above thearchitrave is a Doric frieze and a cornice. The tomb's architectural style is influenced byancient Greek architecture (two pillars withDoriccapitals) as well asNabataean influence in architecture and decorative elements (Nabataeanising was fashionable among some Judaean families),[1] withoutancient Egyptian architectural influences.
The tomb dates to the second century BCE, the Hellenistic period and the time of theHasmonean monarchy inJewish history. Architecturally the so-called Tomb of Zechariah postdates the complex, and the Tomb of Absalom is considered to have been erected even later. The tomb is effectively a burial cave dug into the cliff. It contains a Hebrew inscription, which makes it clear that this was the burial site of apriestly family called Benei Hezir, lit. "sons [descendants] of Hezir". The inscription reads:
זה הקבר והנפש שלאלעזר חניה יועזר יהודה שמעון יוחנן בני יוסף בן עובד יוסף ואלעזר בני חניה כהנים מבני חזיר — This is the grave and theNefesh (burial monument) of Eliezer Hania Yoazar Yehuda Shimon Yochanan Benei (sons of) Yosef Ben (son of) Oved Yosef and Elazar Benei (sons of) Hania, Kohanim of the Hezir family.
The name Hezir appears twice in the Bible (see below). The inscription on the monument mentions the "sons of Hezir", meaning: the descendants of Hezir. The Hebrew term isbnei Hezir, usually written in English as Benei Hazir. The common misspellingHazir is clearly wrong, since that meanspig in Hebrew.
In the 19th century Westerners still identified the monument with the tomb ofSt. James the Apostle.
The tomb's inscription reveals that the cave was used by several generations of the Benei Hezir family. As well, it indicates that this was a wealthy family, able to afford a burial cave in the Kidron Valley. In theHebrew Bible there are two mentions of men with the name of Hezir. One was the founder of the 17thpriestly division (1 Chron. 24:15); the other one was among the leaders who set their seal to the covenant withNehemiah (Neh. 10:20). It is not known if there is a relation between the family buried here and the biblical Hezirs.
The inscription mentions anefesh (נפש : literally meaningsoul), which is also a designation for a magnificent structure built on or alongside the tomb. It has been proposed that the Tomb of Zechariah, a solid rock-hewn object which stands by the entrance, and is thought to date from a similar period to the inscription,[2] is actually thisnefesh.[3] Another option is that the additional facade to the north of the Doricdystilos-in-antis was the originalnefesh. Although it did not survive, it is possible to reconstruct the upper part of the above-mentioned facade as a Nabataean tower with a decorative door and window; similar monuments can be seen inPetra.
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