Tel Rosh: The forgotten Rehob in the Upper Galilee

Tel Rosh (Khirbet Tell ‘er-Ruwēsah) is located in the western part of the Upper Galilee, some 27 km northeast of Acre. Surveys conducted over the years and recent excavations have shown that it was settled almost continuously from the Early Bronze Age to the Ottoman Period, and that it was a regional centre during Iron Age II. In the past, it was identified with Beth-Shemesh of Naphtali (Josh 19:38; Jdg 1:33). However, in our analysis, all of the towns of Naphtali should be sought east of Mount Meron, while those to its west were in the territory of Asher, and we tentatively propose to identify Tel Rosh with the ‘northern’ Rehob of Asher, listed in Josh 19:28.