Some Tangible Evidence
• Establishment of a centralized form of government • Less evidence related to the time Saul and David than Solomon • Beginning years of the new monarchy • Reigns more focused on war against Canaanite nations instead of construction • Major evidence not found • Lack of interaction with “major world powers” Saul
• Reigned c. 1050-1010 BC • Anointed by Samuel (1 Sam 9:17-10:1) • Samuel was old (1 Sam 8:5) • Samuel’s sons were not just (1 Sam 8:1-5) • Desire to be like other nations (1 Sam 8:5, 20) • Lack of faith in God to provide a new judge (1 Sam 8:7-8) • Fear of other nations (1 Sam 8:20) • From Gibeah (1 Sam 10:26; 15:34) Saul
Image: https://www.bible-history.com/maps/books.php Saul
Gibeah • Excavated by W.F. Albright, 1922, 1933 • Key find was a fortress • Dates 1050-1000 BC • Renovated 1000-950 BC • 170 x 115 ft • Simplistic stone walls • No gold or ivory decorations
Image: http://www.lifeintheholyland.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Gibeah-Sauls-palace-with-view-s-to-Jerusalem-db6403302905.jpg Saul
Pim weights • 1 Sam 13:20-21 • Small stone weights • Average weight was 7.82 g
Image: https://sites.google.com/site/jwmuseumbibletours/all-artefacts/075-pim-weight Saul
The death of Saul • 1 Sam 31:8-10; 1 Chron 31:10 • Killed on Mount Gilboa • Armor hung in the temple of the Ashtoreths • Body hung on the wall of Beth Shan (Beth Shean) • Head hung on the temple of Dagon
Image: https://www.bible-history.com/maps/books.php Saul
The temples of Beth Shean • Twin temples discovered in stratum VI • Dates to 11th century BC • Found in 1920 • One temple held a figure of Ashtoreth
Image: https://www.bible-history.com/maps/books.php David
• Reigned c. 1010-970 BC • Anointed by Samuel (1 Sam 16:1-13) • From Bethlehem (1 Sam 16:1, 4) • Fact or legend? David
Tel Dan Inscription • Discovered in during 1993 excavation at Tel Dan • Dates to 796-792 BC • Discovered in its secondary use • Housed at the Israel Museum • Tells the story of King Hazael of Syria assaulting Israel
Image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tel_Dan_Stele, owner Oren Rozen David
Tel Dan Inscription “[I killed Jeho]ram son of [Ahab] king of Israel, and [I] killed [Ahaz]iahu son of [Jehoram ki]ng of Bayt-David. And [I set their towns into ruins] and turned their land into [destruction].” • “Bayt-David” – House or dynasty of David
Image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tel_Dan_Stele, image owner Oren Rozen David
The Moabite Stone • Discovered in 1868 • Dated to 840 BC • Housed at the Louvre • Made of black basalt stone • Relays the story of Moab’s battle for independence from Israel (cf. 2 Kings 3)
Image: https://www.flickr.com/photos/wallyg/1510497879 David
The Moabite Stone • André Lamaire, 1994 • “As for Horonen, there lived in it the House of David…”
Image: https://www.flickr.com/photos/wallyg/1510497879 David
Khirbet Qeiyafa • Located 20 mil SSW from Jerusalem • Excavated 2007-2013 • Israelite city, c. early 10th century BC • 5.7 acres in size • Single occupation
Image: https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/ancient-cultures/daily-life-and-practice/biblical-name-eshbaal-found-outside-of-the-bible/ David
Image: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/66/%D7%A7%D7%99%D7%90%D7%A4%D7%94.JPG ; image owner Avram Graicer David
Image: https://www.jpost.com/Magazine/Two-gates-at-least-two-opinions-473553; photo credit: SKYVIEW LTD David
Image: http://www.biblestudywithrandy.com/2014/06/khirbet-qeiyafa-davidic-city/ David
Image: https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/ancient-cultures/daily-life-and-practice/biblical-name-eshbaal-found-outside-of-the-bible/ David
Dowry for Michal • 1 Sam 18:20-27 • Medinet Habu
Image: https://www.world-archaeology.com/world/africa/egypt/egypts-archaeology-and-revolution/ David
Hebron • David’s first capital (2 Sam 2:1-3; 5:5)
Image: http://www.jesuswalk.com/david/life_of_david_maps_and_graphics.htm David
Hebron • David’s first capital (2 Sam 2:1-3; 5:5) • Jeffrey Chadwick, 1960s • Well-fortified in 12th and 11th centuries BC • 15 acres in size • 20’ thick wall
Image: https://thetorah.com/the-ancient-city-of-hebron/ David
“This, along with the presence of other walled and growing cities along the spine of Israel’s hill country, such as Jerusalem and Shechem, lends support to the argument that the critical mass of an Israelite state was in place as the tenth century B.C.E. dawned.” Jeffrey Chadwick, Biblical Archaeology Review, Biblical Archaeology Society
Image: https://thetorah.com/the-ancient-city-of-hebron/ David
Gibeon • Located in the tribe of Benjamin (Josh 18:20-25) • Part of Ishbosheth’s territory
Image: http://www.jesuswalk.com/david/life_of_david_maps_and_graphics.htm David
Gibeon • Located in the tribe of Benjamin (Josh 18:20-25) • Part of Ishbosheth’s territory • James Prichard, 1956 • El-Jib (Al-Jib)
Image: https://www.penn.museum/sites/expedition/the-bible-reports-on-gibeon/ David
Pool of Gibeon • Key battle between David and Ishbosheth (2 Sam 2:12-17) • James Prichard, 1956-1957 • 37’ diameter • Dates to the 11th century BC
Image: https://ferrelljenkins.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/gibeon_pool_fjenkins_090711_869t.jpg David
Pool of Gibeon • Key battle between David and Ishbosheth (2 Sam 2:12-17) • James Prichard • 37’ diameter • Dates to the 11th century BC • Circular staircase, 79 steps
Image: https://www.penn.museum/sites/expedition/the-wine-industry-at-gibeon-1959-discoveries/ David
Pool of Gibeon • Key battle between David and Ishbosheth (2 Sam 2:12-17) • James Prichard • 37’ diameter • Dates to the 11th century BC • Circular staircase, 79 steps
Image: https://www.penn.museum/sites/expedition/the-bible-reports-on-gibeon/ David
Pool of Siloam • Key strategy in taking Jerusalem (2 Sam 5:6-10; 1 Chron 11:4-9) • Sir Charles Warren, 1867 • Kathleen Kenyon, 1960s
Image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warren%27s_Shaft#/media/File:City_of_david_-_Warren%27s_shaft_Pir_IMG_4894.jpg; image owner Deror avi David
David’s Palace • David hired Phoenicians to help build his palace (2 Sam 5:11) • Kathleen Kenyon, 1960s • 18 m support structure • Dates to 10th century BC • Overlooks the rest of the city
Image: http://www.biblicalarchaeologytruth.com/davids-palace.html David
David’s Palace • David hired Phoenicians to help build his palace (2 Sam 5:11) • Kathleen Kenyon, 1960s • Eilat Mazar, 2000s
Image: http://www.biblicalarchaeologytruth.com/davids-palace.html Solomon
• Reigned c. 970-930 BC • Chosen by God (1 Chron 22:9-10; 2 Sam 7:12-13) • Son of Bathsheba(2 Sam 12:24) • Blessed with wisdom from God (1 Kings 3:3-15) • Built the first temple in Jerusalem (1 Kings 6-8) • Turned away from God with foreign women and idolatry (1 Kings 11) Solomon
Married to Pharaoh’s Daughter • 1 Kings 3:1 • El-Amarna Letters • Herodutus • Destruction of Gezer (1 Kings 9:16)
Image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amarna_letters#/media/File:Amarna_Akkadian_letter.png, public domain Solomon
Fortification of Cities • 1 Kings 9:15 • Megiddo • Hazor • Gezer
האיל הניאוליתי:Image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tel_Hazor#/media/File:Hatzor-SolomonicGate.jpg ; User Solomon
האיל הניאוליתיImage: http://holylandphotos.org/browse.asp?s=1,2,6,27,122&img=ICSHGZ41 Solomon
Fortification of Cities • 1 Kings 9:15 • 1 Kings 9:19 • “cities for his chariots and cities for his cavalry” • Megiddo
Image:https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7e/JPF-TelMegiddo.JPG Solomon
Construction of the Temple • 1 Kings 5:5-9 • Solomon sought timber and labor from Sidon • Hiram floated cedar and cypress logs to Solomon in exchange for food • Solomon also had a work force of Israelites, Gebalites, and Sidonites (1 Kings 5:18) • Hiram sent sailors to teach Solomon’s navy captains (1 Kings 9:27)
Image:https://www.bible-history.com/maps/books.php Solomon
Image:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tell_Tayinat#/media/File:Iron_Age_Temple_(photo_credit_Stephen_Batiuk).jpg Solomon
Queen of Sheba • 1 Kings 10:1-13 • Queen of Sheba came to test Solomon’s wisdom • This resulted in improved trade between the nations (v 10, 13) • This is further stated in Psalms, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezra • Believed to be the kingdom of Saba
Image: https://www.timemaps.com/history/arabia-1000bc/ Solomon
Queen of Sheba • 1 Kings 10:1-13 • Believed to be the kingdom of Saba • Sheba Inscription • Discovered at an antiquities market, 2009 • Dated c. 600 BC • Housed at the British Museum • From Sabahhumu, a messenger of the king of Saba
Image: https://members.bib-arch.org/biblical-archaeology-review/36/1/28