Nabi Shueib

At the end of the Arbel valley, we come (10km/6mi from Tiberias) to Nabi Shueib, under the north side of the Horns of Hittim. This is an important holy place for the Druzes, for here they venerate the tomb of Moses' father-in-law Jethro, housed in a domed shrine. Annually in April they celebrate the memory of the man whom they regard as the first of their seven prophets. The last of the prophets was Caliph el-Hakim (11th century), a contemporary of Darazi, who formulated the secret religion of the Druzes. The Druzes believe that the remains of Jethro, whom they call Nabi Shueib (nabi = "prophet"), were brought here from the land of the Midianites when his descendants came to Kedesh, south of the Sea of Galilee (Judges 4,11).