Eshtemoa
In the 12th century CE, the Crusaders built a fortress that was part of the eastern defense line.
In 1838, Edward Robinson identified the town of Semua with biblical Eshtemoa. Eshtemoa, meaning obedience, was a priestly allotment mentioned in the Book of Joshua (19:50, 21:14), in Samuel I (30:25), and in the Books of Chronicles I (4:17, 6:42).
The Jerusalem Talmud mentions Eshtemoa as well as an amora active in the town during the 4th-century by the name of Hasa of Eshtemoa. Eusebius of Caesarea (4th-century) describes Eshtemoa in the Onomasticon as being a Jewish town in the 'Daroma', north of Aniam, within the Eleutheropolis (Bet Guvrin) region.
In 1934, remains of the towns ancient synagogue were discovered and the site was later excavated in 1969, by Ze'ev Yeivin.
Read more about this topic: As-Samu