At the incline of a stony hill, about 200 meters west of Beit Haddassha, there is a cave that is claimed to be the burial place of one of the first judges of Israel – Otniel Ben Kenaz. There is no mention of his specific burial place in Tanach. He was the son-in-law of Calev Ben Yefuneh, who received the city of Hevron as an inheritance.
Otniel Ben Kenaz was one of the towering figures in the history of the Jewish People.
Our Sages highly praised him and attributed the return of many forgotten halachic practices among the Jewish People after Moshe Rabeinus death, to the strength of his Torah Learning.
In Divrei HaYamim, Otniel Ben Kenaz is referred to as Yavetz.
The cave that is believed to mark the burial place of Otneil Ben Kenaz was purchased by Jews in the 19th century. In 1997, it came under the control of the Palestinian Authority. Since then, Jews can only visit the site several times a year.