| Building Name: | Tomb of Othniel Ben Kenaz |
| Religious Affiliation: | Judaism |
| Map Type: | Israel |
| Coordinates: | 31.5333°N 35.095°W |
| Location: | West Bank |
| Architecture Type: | Burial cave |
| Established: | Probably after the Mishnah time period |
The Tomb of Othniel Ben Kenaz is a burial cave located in Hebron. The cave contains ten burial niches, one of which is for Othniel, the first of the Israelite judges. The cave is a popular destination for the Jewish people and holiday prayer services are held there.
The burial cave is currently located 200 meters west of the Beit Hadassah building in Hebron.[1] [2] It might have been built in a time period within the Mishnah (6th–7th centuries BCE) due to its architecture, which is dated to around that period.[3] Prayer services for holidays including the Lag BaOmer or Tisha B'Av have been held at the site as well.[4] [5]
During the rule of the Mamluk Sultanate, a housing estate was built above the burial cave. The cave itself served as a well-ventilated basement where sheep were reared, because the area was not comfortable to live in and there were no human remains discovered upon excavation.[6] However, the cave was reportedly under a vineyard by the time the Ottoman Empire took over leadership of the West Bank (after 1516).
Menachem Mendel, a hotelier of Jerusalem, reported in his 1839 book Sefer Korot Ha-Itim about the condition of the burial cave and how an entrance fee had to be paid in order to be granted access. He says;[7]
Writing in the 19th century, the traveller J. J. Benjamin narrated the following about the cave in his book Eight Years in Asia and Africa:[8]
After the Arab War had ended, Israeli soldiers entered the site to renovate the cave before installing a sign or plaque in Hebrew and Arabic which indicated the burial of Othniel within the cave.
In 2022, clashes between Israelis and Palestinians occurred at the site. The Israeli Defence Force were called in to quell the violence.[9] [10] Some of the Jewish rioters injured the IDF soldiers during their intervention to stop the clashes, which was mostly by accident. However, some of the Jewish rioters reportedly attacked the incoming IDF in order to maintain peace between Palestinians and Israelis. The incident was condemned by Aviv Kohavi, the then-Chief of the General Staff under the IDF.
The cave has an area of 130 square metres. There are ten compartments in the walls of the cave to align with burial practices stated in the Mishnah. These ten compartments are actually burial niches; Othniel is buried in one of them, while nine of his students are buried in the others. However, J.J Benjamin states that Jesse, the father of David is buried in one of the nine remaining burial niches.
The site has been venerated by the Jews for generations. It is a popular religious destination for Jews, both locals and tourists.[11] Annually, Shabbat Chayei Sarah is celebrated there on a Saturday, where the Torah is recited. On religious holidays like Lag BaOmer and Tisha B'Av, prayer services are held in the cave. During the mass pilgrimages to the site, the IDF is responsible for ensuring the safety and security of Jewish pilgrims.