Achzib

This article incorporates text from Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897), a publication now in the public domain.

Achziv National Park

Achziv - "falsehood".

(1.) A town in the Shephelah, or plain country of Judah (Josh. 15:44); probably the same as Chezibh of Gen. 38:5 = Ain Kezbeh.

(2.) A Phoenician city (the Gr. Ecdippa), always retained in their possession though assigned to the tribe of Asher (Josh. 19:29; Judg. 1:31) "And the fifth lot came out for the tribe of the children of Asher ... and the outgoings thereof are at the sea from the coast to Achzibh". It is identified with the modern es-Zib, on the Mediterranean, about 8 miles north of Acco.

The remnants of Achzibh, now known as Tel Achziv is located on a sandstone mound between two creeks, Kziv creek on the north and Shaal Creek on the south, and close to the border with Lebanon.

An ancient port was located on the coast, and another secondary port is located 700 m to the south, at a site called Khirbet ("ruin of-", in Ar.) "port of Achziv".

Archeological excavations have revealed that a walled city existed at the location from the Middle Bronze period. History of Achziv goes back to the Chalcolithic period (45-32C BC).

King David added the city into his Kingdom, but King Solomon returned it to Hiram as part of the famous pact.

During Sancheriv invasions, the Assyrians conquered the city.

During the reign of the Seleucids, the border was established at Rosh HaNikra, just north to Achziv, making it a border city, and under the control of Acco.

During the Crusader period, a fortress called "Casal Humberti", named after a knight commander of the fort, was built.

The village of Az-Zeeb was located here during the Mamluk and Ottoman periods, the houses erected using the stones of the Crusader castle. The villagers were expelled to Lebanon during the 1948 Arab–Israeli War.

During the fight, in 1946, the United Resistance blew up the railroad bridge over the creek at Achziv. In memory of the 14 soldiers who died during operation Markolet (Night of the bridges), a monument was erected.

In addition, Kibbutz Gesher-Haziw ("the bright bridge") is named after the fallen fighters, and Kibbutz Yehiam is named after the commander, Yehiam Weitz, who died in the action.

Today, Achziv is a national park.

External links

• Achziv Achziv, by the Institute of Archaeology of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, excavated under the direction of Dr. Eilat Mazar.
• Achziv archeological exhibit at the Hecht Museum Artifacts from the Cemetery at Achziv

v • d • e National parks of Israel Achziv • Alexander stream • Aqua Bella • Arsuf • Ashkelon National Park • Avdat • Beit Alfa Synagogue • Bayt 'Itab • Beit She'an • Beit She'arim • Belvoir Fortress • Bir'am • Bsor River • Ancient Caesarea • Canada • Capernaum • Chorazin • Ein Avdat • Ein Gedi • Eshkol Park • Eleutheropolis • Gan HaShlosha • Hamat Gader • HaSharon Park • Herodium • Hippos • Hurvat Minia • Kursi • Lachish • Ma'ayan Harod • Mamshit • Masada • Mazor Mausoleum • Migdal Afek • Montfort Castle • Mount Arbel • Mount Carmel • Mount Tabor • Nimrod Fortress • Nitzana • Palmachim beach • al-Qastal • Qumran • Rosh HaNikra • Rubin Stream • Sde Amudim • Semekh caves • Shivta • City of David National Park • Sidna Ali • Hurshat Tal • Tel Arad • Tel Be'er Sheva • Tel Gezer • Tel Hazor • Tel Jericho • Tel Kedesh • Tel Megiddo • Tomb of Samuel • Tzalmon stream • Tzippori • Ein Tzurim Valley • Yarkon River • Tel Afek • Yehiam Fort

Coordinates: 33°03′N 35°06′E / 33.05°N 35.1°E / 33.05; 35.1