Historical Background

As Seleucid authority weakened, local rulers gained power in the mountains and valleys north of Galilee. The Itureans became associated with a principality centered on Chalcis under Lebanon. Its political boundaries changed as nearby cities, Hasmonean rulers, and Roman leaders competed for control.

The Itureans were known to Greek and Roman authors, although descriptions of their way of life sometimes reflect outsiders' stereotypes. Their history cannot be reduced to a single permanent kingdom.