Belad Bechara, also spelled Bilad Beshara (), is a popular and historic name for a mountainous region in Jabal Amel in Southern Lebanon.

Etymology Some historians believe that the name Belad Bechara means the "Country of the Gospel" in reference to the teaching and revelation of Christ in the region while others believe it is in reference to an Ayyubid prince by the name of Bechara.Al-Faqih, Mohamad Taqi. History of Jabal Amel, Dar Al-Adwaa, Beirut page 380

Geography

Belad Bechara is the mountainous region that lies south of the Litani River, extending southward to Upper Galilee, and including the Hula Valley, Hunin, and Tiberias.Sader, Elias. The Revolution of Jabal Amel, 1920, Beirut, Lebanon, page 18

History According to Abrahamic traditions, Belad Bechara is the northernmost part of the Promised Land, which was the division of the tribes of Azer and Naphtali, and later took the name of Upper Galilee.Ledochowski, Wladmir. Lettres de Jersey, Volume 2, "II-Au Belad-Bechara," Jules de Meester & Fils, 25 December 1924, page 391

In 1881, C. R. Conder and H. H. Kitchener mentioned ten villages in the Belad Besharah region on their map 2, namely: 'Aita ez Zut, Berashit, Haris,Conder and Kitchener, 1881, p. 94 El Jumeijmeh,Conder and Kitchener, 1881, pp.94-95 Kefrah, Meis, Safed el Battikh, Tibnin, Kulat Tibnin and El Yehudiyeh.Conder and Kitchener, 1881, p. 95 On map 3 there was one village; Salhaneh.Conder and Kitchener, 1881, p. 152 The remaining 27 villages were on map 4: 'Ain Ibl, 'Ainata, 'Aita esh Shaub,Conder and Kitchener, 1881, p. 200 'Aitherun, Beit Lif, Beit Yahun, Belideh, Bint Umm Jubeil, Deishun, Dibl, Haddatha, Hanin,Conder and Kitchener, 1881, p. 201 Kades, El Kozah, Kunin, El Malkiyeh, Marun er Ras, Neby Muheibib, Ramia, Rumeish, Rusheif, Salhah,Conder and Kitchener, 1881, p. 202 Es Salihiyeh, Surubbin, Et Tireh, Yater and Yarun.Conder and Kitchener, 1881, p. 203

See also Jabal Amel Upper Galilee Ain Ebel El Assaad Family El Zein Family

References

Bibliography