Rajeb

For the town in Greater Amman area with Cave of the Seven Slerpers, see Al-Rajib.

Rajeb or Rajib (Arabic: راجب) is a village in the Ajloun Governorate in northwestern Jordan.^[1] In classical sources, Ar Rajib is known as Reğeb (Ragaba).^[2]

Rajeb راجب
Rajeb Location in Jordan
Coordinates: 32°14′20″N 35°41′45″E
PAL	215/183
Country	Jordan
Governorate	Ajloun Governorate
Time zone	UTC + 2

History

Rajeb is identified with the ancient fortress of Reğeb (Hebrew: רגב), or Ragaba (Greek: Ράγκαβα). According to the historical accounts by Flavius Josephus, a Jewish historian from the first century AD, Alexander Jannaeus, king of Judaea, died during a siege at this location (around 76 BC).^[2][3] The Mishnah notes that Reğeb was renowned for its olive oil.^[2][3]

A maqam named Maqam Hajja Amirah, accompanied by a mosque, once stood in the graveyard atop a nearby flat hill. Today, only remnants of it exist as a ruin on a slope adjacent to the asphalt street. According to local accounts, it was demolished in recent years to accommodate the expansion of the graveyard.^[4]

Ottoman era

In 1596, during the Ottoman Empire, Rajeb (under the name of Rajib Rayan) was noted in the census as being located in the nahiya of Ajloun in the liwa of Ajloun. It had a population of 8 households and 2 bachelors, all Muslim. They paid a fixed tax-rate of 25% on various agricultural products, including wheat (1400 a.), barley (1600 a.), summer crops (1600 a.) olive trees (800 a.), goats and beehives (400 a.), in addition to "occasional revenues" (320 a.) and for an olive oil press/press for grape syrup (80 a.); a total of 4,500 akçe.^[5]

Modern era

The Jordanian census of 1961 found 645 inhabitants in Rajib.^[6]

Waterfall

The Rajeb Waterfall attracts thousands of visitors annually.^[7]