About the Site

Like Tel Burna, Khirbet 'Ether is located in the Shephelah region (or foothills) of modern Israel in a fertile area that became known as the breadbasket of the south. Also like Burna, this site has never been excavated until our project. Our 2020 survey shows the site was occupied during the Late Iron IIA through the Iron IIC (contemporary with Burna), as well as in later periods, especially the Byzantine period. Unlike Burna, it does not appear that 'Ether was fortified, or at least well fortified. 

Biblical Ether?

Khirbet ʿEther is almost certainly identical to biblical Ether – a town mentioned in the Libnah district of Judah – right after Libnah and before Ashan (Joshua 15:42). The two Judean towns/villages sit directly across from each other with the Guvrin River between them. ‘Ether is a smaller site than Tel Burna (Libnah) and it was the next tier down from Libnah, which itself is only a fortified town compared to the administrative center of nearby Lachish (the second-most important town in Judah during the period).