footsteps of king david

IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF KING DAVID, BY YOSEF GARFINKEL, SAAR GANOR, AND MICHAEL G. HASEL

In 2007 a fortified city from the time of king David was discovered at Khirbet Qeiyafa. The site was dated to king David's time by archaeologists from accurate radiometric measurements. The fortress was located in the Elah valley where biblical tradition places the combat between David and Goliath. The fortress sits on the ancient border between Israelite and Philistine territory. This area was only important militarily in the 10th and 9th centuries B.C, after which the border shifted further south to the city of Lachish. This shows that the writers of the books of first and second Chronicles were using accurate historical information. (1) The discovery of this fortress challenges the ideas of earlier scholars who didn't believe the biblical record. Those scholars thought that king David never existed until July 21, 1993, when an inscription was found at Tel Dan in northern Israel. This inscription proved beyond doubt that a king named David founded a dynasty in Israel. (2) Archaeologists also concluded that the fortress at Khirbet Queyafa was inhabited by the people of Judah. In 2012 an inscription with the name Esbaal was found at the site. In the Bible Esbaal was a son of Saul and a rival of David. In the 10th century the name Esbaal was common in Israel but disappears in the following centuries. (3) Scholars have identified this area as "Pas-Dammim" which in Hebrew means "border of blood" mentioned in I Chronicles 11:13. (4) Archeologists have proposed the name of the site as "Shaaraim" which is mentioned in the Bible three times in Joshua 15:35-36, 1 Samuel 17:52, and 1 Chronicles 4:31-32. (5) Shaaraim in Hebrew means two gates and indeed the fortress has two gates. The site shows evidence of a strong centralized state, and a large number of weapons were found there. (6) This evidence shows that in the 10th century a kingdom was founded that ruled over the hill country of Judah just exactly as the Bible says.

Notes: Yosef Garfinkle, Saar Ganor, Michael G. Hasel, In the Footsteps of King David, Revelations from an Ancient Biblical City, (1) p20, (2) p26, (3)P124-125, (4)p20, (5)p165, (6)p202-203

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Archaeologist Erez Ben Yoseph has excavated seven seasons at Tima in the southern desert in Israel. It had been thought the large copper production in the Timna valley was produced by ancient Egypt. New carbon dates show the peak of production points to the 10th century B.C, the time of Solomon. Erez Ben Yoseph discovered a "substantial defensive system," and evidence of a "sophisticated and well organized" production of copper. The site indicates a highly complex and centralized society produced at least a hundred tons copper in this location. This settlement is not different from other sites in the area and seems to show copper production in the desert was on a massive scale that only Egypt or Assyria could maintain. The area at this time however was inhabited by highly skilled craftsmen and the elite of Edom. Edom was an older kingdom than Israel and Genesis 36: 31-43 gives a king list of that kingdom. The bible states that Edom was eventually conquered by King David. 2 Samuel 8: 14, And he put garrisons in Edom. In all Edom he put garrisons, and all the Edomites became servants to David and the Lord helped David wherever he went. Israelite control of Edom continued through the reign of Solomon. Erez Ben Yoseph stated that fish from Galilee and the Mediterranean were move by caravan down to Timna, along with meat and grain, showing that the workers were well fed. The bible states that Solomon was importing a large amount of gold and silver into his kingdom. 1 Kings 10: 28-29 states that Solomon was importing and exporting horses and chariots to kings of the middle east. He must have been exporting large amounts of copper as well, which would have been the secret of his great wealth. Copper was the petroleum of the ancient world. Copper was used to make bronze weapons, hoes, sickles, cookware, dishes, saws, chisels and knives. Even after the kingdom of Israel split in two, Judah continued to control Edom until the reign of Jehoram. 2 Chronicles 21: 10, So Edom revolted against Judah until this day. Edom may have been destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar after the fall of Jerusalem.

Notes: from the Bible and Back to Solomon's Era: Results of the First Excavations at "Slaves Hill" site 34, Timna Israel, (Basor 376, 2016, 169-198,) Erez Ben Yosef,

The Tel Dan Stele inscription mentions a king of Israel and the phrase "The House of David." Discovered in 1993, it's the first time the phrase "House of David" has been found outside the Bible. Most scholars believe the inscription was created by Hazael king of Syria, But Dr. David Miano states it was written by Jehu king of Israel in a YouTube video "Who wrote the Tel Dan Inscription."

1 Samuel 24:2, "Then Saul took 3,000 chosen men from all Israel and went to search for David and his men in front of the rocks of the Mountain Goats." New American Standard Bible

This 7th century Ekron Inscription dedicates a Temple to a goddess, by a Philistine King Achish. This name is also mentioned in the Bible. "So, David arose and crossed over, he and the 600 men who were with him, to Achish the son of Maoch, king of Gath. Now it was told to Saul that David had fled to Gath, so that he no longer searched for him." 1 Samuel 27:2 and 4

Phoenician style columns were found in the ruins of David's palace in Jerusalem. "Then Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David with cedar trees and carpenters and stonemasons; and they built a house for David." 2 Samuel 5:11

The view from Masada. "And David went up from there and stayed in the strong-holds of Engedi." 1 Samuel 23:29. Our guide Stan believes that the strong-holds of Engedi is a reference to Masada.

Stone lions were used to decorate city gates, palaces and temples in David's time and golden lions were used to adorn Solomon's throne. "Moreover, the king made a great throne of ivory and overlaid it with pure gold. And twelve lions were standing thereon the six steps on the one side and on the other; nothing like it was made for any other kingdom. 2 Chronicles 9:17 and 19.

The weapons of war in David's time. Spear and arrowheads, along with axe heads on the right.

Bronze and iron swords, with a bronze helmet. Very similar to David's time.

Remains of the Jerusalem that David knew. The city of David is actually outside the old city walls of Jerusalem.

Morning rain falls upon the Dead Sea. David and his 600 men and their families hid in this area when they were on the run from king Saul.

Jeremiah 7:12, "Go now to Shiloh, the place where I first made a dwelling for My name," The prophet Samuel grew up here, from a boy into a man. Samuel annointed two kings of Israel, both Saul and David.

The flags mark the area where the Ark of God set for 369 years before King David moved it to Jerusalem.

footsteps of king david

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