Iron Age

One opinion suggests that Beit Einun is the modern site of the Biblical Beth-anoth.^[5][6] Another view suggests that it is the biblical site of Enam (Joshua 15:34),"a village about 2 km. from the renowned terebinth" that grew near Hebron.^[7]

Classical period

At Beit Einun, six burial caves were discovered,^[8] containing several ossuaries dating back to the 1st century CE. One of them bears an inscription in Hebrew with the word "Israel".^[9]

Several scholars suggest that the presence of the name Selacus on one of the ossuaries, which may incorporate the theophoric element "Qos", indicates the existence of a Judaized Edomite community there during the Late Roman period, several generations after the Second Temple's destruction. While these individuals had adopted Jewish customs, they still preserved a distinct identity separate from ethnic Jews.^[8]

Byzantine period

The site became populated during Byzantine rule of Palestine,^[10] and ceramics from that period has been found.^[11] Three churches were built near the center of the town sometime between the 5th and 6th centuries.^[10] The wall construction indicates rebuilding of the church in the Crusader period. Excavations have revealed a mosaic floor in the main hall of the church from the Byzantine period. It is a part of a complex building in which living quarters and storage rooms, as well as water cisterns were found.^[12] Other remains from this time period include two water cisterns, two wine-presses and several tombs.^[10][13]

Early Islamic period

Beit 'Einun is mentioned in the Waqf dedication given by the Islamic prophet Muhammad to Tamim al-Dari, a sahaba ("companion"). Many Muslim-built stone structures are located in the village.^[12] According to Al-Muqaddasi, Beit Einun was well known in the Middle East during the Abbasid era, for producing high-quality raisins named 'Aynuni after the village's name (Bayt Aynun).^[14][15]

Ottoman era

The village was incorporated into the Ottoman Empire in 1517 with all of Palestine, and in 1596 Beit Einun appeared in Ottoman tax registers as being in the Nahiya of Halil of the Liwa of Quds. It had a population of 18 Muslim households, and paid taxes on wheat, barley, vineyards, fruit trees, occasional revenues, goats and/or bee hives.^[16][17]

In 1838 Edward Robinson noted it in ruins.^[18][19]

In July 1863 the French explorer Victor Guérin visited the place, called Khirbet Beit-A'noun. He inspected the ruins, and dated them to the Byzantine era.^[20]

In 1883 the PEF's Survey of Palestine found here "walls, foundations, and a reservoir. There is a spring to the wast, and on the south a small ruined chapel; the walls and pillar-chafts remaining; this is called el Keniseh. Remains of a tower with large drafted masonry also exist; it measures 82 feet north and south by 72 feet east and west. The stones are in some cases 6 feet long and 3 feet high."^[21]