Tuqu'

Infobox Palestinian Authority muni
name=Tuqu'


imgsize=250
caption=A sketch of Tuqu' [W. M. Thomson. "The Land and the Book; or Biblical Illustrations Drawn from the Manners and Customs, the Scenes and Scenery of the Holy Land". Vol. II. New York, 1859.]
arname=تقوع
meaning="the place for pitching tents" (probable)
founded=
type=munc
typefrom=
altOffSp=Taqua
altUnoSp=Teqoa
governorate=bl
latd=31|latm=38|lats=11.23|latNS=N
longd=35 |longm=12|longs=52.14|longEW=E
population=6,670
popyear=2006
area=Built-up: 899
areakm=
mayor=Raed Hamida

Tuquʿ ( _ar. تقوع, _he. תקוע) is a Palestinian town in the Bethlehem Governorate, located 12 km southeast of Bethlehem in the West Bank. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS), Tuqu' had a population of about 6,700 in mid-year 2006. [http://www.pcbs.gov.ps/Portals/_pcbs/populati/pop10.aspx Projected Mid -Year Population for Bethlehem Governorate by Locality 2004- 2006] Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS)]

Tuqu' is well known for its vegetables. The town is a part of the 'Arab al-Ta'amira cluster which includes 15 other towns and villages including Za'atara, Beit Ta'mir, Khirbet al-Deir and al-Asakra. The village cluster has a land area of 217,636 dunams and Tuqu's built-up area consists of 899 dunams. [ [http://www.poica.org/editor/case_studies/view.php?recordID=1125 Tequ' Village: Location & Population] Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem. 2007-08-09.]

History

Tuqu' has Biblical importance as it was where Joab procured a "wise woman", who pretended to be in great affliction and skillfully made her case known to David. Her address to the king was in the form of an epilogue, similar to that of Nathan (2 Sam. 12:1-6). The object of Joab was — by the intervention of this "wise woman" — to induce David to bring back Absalom to Jerusalem (2 Sam. 14:2, 4, 9).

According to biblical sources, Ephrathites from Bethlehem and the Calebites from Hebron founded Tuqu'. The village was the birthplace of Ira, the son of Ikkesh — one of David's "mighty men". Tuqu' is also renowned for being the birthplace of the Old Testament prophet Amos. [http://198.62.75.1/www1/ofm/mad/discussion/075discuss.html Thekoa - (Tuqu'a)] Studium Biblicum Franciscanum - Jerusalem.] (Amos 1:1)

Tuqu' continued to be important until after the Crusader period where it served as a benefice to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. William of Tyre relates that the Christians of the village aided the Crusaders during the Siege of Jerusalem (1099), by guiding them to local springs and food sources. The modern town of Tuqu' was relocated approximately two kilometers west of the ancient site.

Archeology

Amos' tomb is located in the village and several years after his death, the tomb became sacred; The Byzantines erected a church around 300 AD in his honor, which is visible today through its remains. The ruins consist of a double cave over what was a baptism basin, mosaic floors, and a Monophysite monastery is located near the tomb.

Just outside Tuqu' is Wadi Khreiton ("Chariton Valley"). The valley is notable for containing three prominent caves inhabited since the Paleolithic era: Umm Qatfa, Umm Qala'a and Erq al-Ahmar. The latter was inhabited since 8,000 BCE and traces of fire have been found in Umm Qala'a, dating back 500,000 years. [ [http://www.bethlehem.ps/cultural_sites/natural_heritage/wadi_khreitoun.php Wadi Khreitoun] Zeitar, Leila. Centre for Cultural Heritage Preservation.] Erq al-Ahmar is also believed to host the oldest surviving stove in history. In nearby Khirbet Tuqu', there are the remains of a Byzantine church and monastery.

Demographics

According to a 1997 census by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS), Tuqu' had a population of 4,890 inhabitants. There were only 24 Palestinian refugees, making up 0.5% of the population. [ [http://www.pcbs.gov.ps/Portals/_pcbs/phc_97/bet_t6.aspx Palestinian Population by Locality and Refugee Status] (1997) Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS)] There were 2,534 males and 2,356 females. [ [http://www.pcbs.gov.ps/Portals/_pcbs/phc_97/bet_t1.aspx Palestinian Population by Locality, Sex and Age Groups in Years] (1997) Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS)] In 2004, Tuqu's total population rose to 6,265 and in 2006 there was an estimated population of 6,669 inhabitants. The majority of Tuqu's Christian inhabitants emigrated to Bethlehem in the eighteenth century, thus Tuqu' currently has a Muslim majority. [http://www.thisweekinpalestine.com/details.php?id=786&ed=71&edid=71 Taqou' village] (1998) Mitri Raheb and Fred Strickert Palmyra publishing house via "This Week in Palestine"] Tuqu's Christian emigrants formed Bethlehem's Qawawsa Quarter. [http://www.bethlehem.ps/cultural_sites/natural_heritage/tqoa.php Tqoa’ area] Zeiter, Leila. Centre for Preservation of Culture and History.]

Economy

Since the beginning of the Second Intifada and an incident in May 2001 in which the bodies of two 14-year-old Israeli boys were found near Tuqu', [http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2001/may/09/israel1 Two Israeli boys found bludgeoned to death] Guardian News and Media Limited. 2001-05-09.] the town has been sealed off by the Israel Defense Forces, preventing around 1,200 residents from reaching their jobs in Bethlehem or in Israel. Many of Tuqu's inhabitants have also been prevented from their traditional shepherding lands. [http://www.annadwa.org/resources/articles/prophet_amos.htm Prophet Amos’s Words Still Ring True] Abu Ghazaleh, Sami. International Center of Bethlehem.]

In 2006, 60% of Tuqu's labor force faced unemployment due to Israeli closures and military barriers which prevent many workers from reaching their destinations. The remainder that are able to work, mostly work in construction in Israel (65%), while 20% work in agriculture, 8% in trade and commerce and 7% in governmental sectors. [http://www.poica.org/editor/case_studies/view.php?recordID=785 Teqou Municipality received three new Demolition Orders] Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem. 2006-03-03.] The town's municipal council has strove to boost Tuqu's economy by making it a tourist destination. The municipal hall will be built in front of the ruins of the Byzantine church's baptism basin to further urbanization of that area.

References

Further reading

In his book, "The David Story", Robert Alter, on page 275 refers to Tekoa as a village ten miles north of Jerusalem.