Sweimeh
{{one source|date=January 2022}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Sweimeh
| other_name =
| native_name = السويمة
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| settlement_type = village
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| image_skyline = Mosque - panoramio (24).jpg
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| pushpin_map = Jordan
| pushpin_label_position = bottom
| pushpin_mapsize = 300
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Jordan
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|Jordan}}
| subdivision_type1 = Governorate
| subdivision_name1 = Balqa Governorate
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| population_total = 5000
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| timezone = UTC+2
| utc_offset = +2
| timezone_DST = UTC+3
| utc_offset_DST = +3
| coordinates = {{coord|31|45|57.2|N|35|35|54.4|E|region:JO|display=inline}}
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| area_code = +(962)5
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Sweimeh ({{langx|ar|السويمة |as-Swayma}}) is a village located in the southern Jordan Valley, in the Balqa Governorate of Jordan.{{cite web|title=Where is Sweimeh, Jordan?|url=https://geotargit.com/index.php?qcountry_code=JO&qregion_code=02&qcity=Sweimeh|publisher=geotargit.com|accessdate=31 January 2022}} Its population is around 5000, within 726 households.Department of Statistics: General Population and Housing. 2015. Available online: http://dosweb.dos.gov.jo/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Census2015_Eng.pdf
Sweimeh's economy is based on agriculture, alongside small projects of trading and tourism. The level of employment is low.{{Cite journal|last1=Al-Assaf|first1=Amani|last2=Tadros|first2=Maher J.|last3=Al-Shishany|first3=Salsabeel|last4=Stewart|first4=Stephanie|last5=Majdalawi|first5=Mohammad|last6=Tabieh|first6=Mohammad|last7=Othman|first7=Yahia A.|date=2020|title=Economic Assessment and Community Management of Prosopis juliflora Invasion in Sweimeh Village, Jordan|journal=Sustainability|language=en|volume=12|issue=20|pages=8327|doi=10.3390/su12208327|doi-access=free}} In recent years, a seaside resort with hotels, bars, clubs, restaurants, and shopping was built at the northern tip of the Dead Sea near Sweimeh. It is also the site of the King Hussein Bin Talal Convention Center.
Sweimeh is commonly identified with the biblical town of Beth-jeshimoth.{{Cite journal|last1=Frumkin|first1=Amos|last2=Elitzur|first2=Yoel|date=2002|title=Historic Dead Sea Level Fluctuations Calibrated with Geological and Archaeological Evidence|url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0033589400010899/type/journal_article|journal=Quaternary Research|language=en|volume=57|issue=3|pages=334–342|doi=10.1006/qres.2002.2330|bibcode=2002QuRes..57..334F |s2cid=129375298|issn=0033-5894|url-access=subscription}}
History
During the Iron Age, Sweimeh was the site of an Israelite town known as Beth-jeshimoth ({{langx|he|בֵּית הַיְשִׁמוֹת|translit=Beit ha-Yeshimot}}).{{Cite journal|last=Glueck|first=Nelson|date=1943-12-01|title=The Jordan|url=https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.2307/3209232|journal=The Biblical Archaeologist|volume=6|issue=4|pages=62–67|doi=10.2307/3209232|jstor=3209232|s2cid=224799587|issn=0006-0895|url-access=subscription}} It is mentioned in four verses of the Hebrew Bible: {{Bibleverse|Numbers|33:49}}, {{Bibleverse|Joshua|12:3; 13:20}}, and {{Bibleverse|Ezekiel|25:9}}. According to the Book of Numbers, the Israelites encamped in Beth-jeshimoth during their wilderness journeys. In the Book of Joshua, it is mentioned as part of the land allocated to the Tribe of Reuben. Ezekiel lists it as one of three cities which constitute "the glory of the country" of Moab, in a passage in which God promises to punish Moab.
In classical antiquity, Beth-jeshimoth was known under its Graecised name, Bezemoth. According to Josephus, during the First Jewish-Roman War, Bezemoth was captured by the Roman army, and was used by them to resettle deserters who had joined the Roman ranks.{{Citation|title=The Jewish-Christian's Move From Jerusalem As A Pragmatic Choice|date=2010-01-01|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/ej.9789004184107.i-248.33|work=Studies in Rabbinic Judaism and Early Christianity|pages=107–138|publisher=BRILL|doi=10.1163/ej.9789004184107.i-248.33|isbn=9789004190627|access-date=2022-01-31 |last1=Bourgel |first1=Jonathan |url-access=subscription}}
References
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External links
- [https://acor.digitalrelab.com/index.php?s=filter=place_name:Sowayma%20(Jordan) Photos of Sowayma] at the American Center of Research
{{Jordan-geo-stub}}
{{coord|31|45|57.2|N|35|35|54.4|E|region:JO_type:city|display=title}}