New Study Confirms Biblical Accounts Of The Kingdom In The West Bank

Archeological findings support claim that expansion occurred in 10th century BCE

June 27, 2023 4 min read

New Study Confirms Biblical Accounts Of The Kingdom In The West Bank

Benjamin Storchan, director of excavation at the Israel Antiquities Authority, looks at ceramic fragments with seal impressions bearing ancienty Hebrew script unearthed at an excavation site, dating back to the Kingdom of Judah 2700 years ago, in Jerusalem on July 22, 2020. - A large collection of seal impressions dating back 2,700 years unveiled in Jerusalem this week offers rare new details about the administration in the ancient kingdom of Judah, including tax collection. The kingdom, which lasted from around from around 940 to 586 BC before being destroyed by the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar, was centred in Jerusalem. A few kilometres from the Old City, in the modern day west Jerusalem neighbourhood of Arona, excavators from the Israel Antiquities Authority discovered the remains of a compound with parts of its ancient ashlar walls still visible. (Photo by MENAHEM KAHANA / AFP) (Photo by MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP via Getty Images)

According to a study by researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the Kingdom of Judah expanded earlier than was previously believed by archeologists, confirming biblical accounts.

An employee of the Israel Antiquities Authority works at an excavation site, dating back to the Kingdom of Judah 2700 years ago, in Jerusalem on July 22, 2020. – A large collection of seal impressions dating back 2,700 years unveiled in Jerusalem this week offers rare new details about the administration in the ancient kingdom of Judah, including tax collection. The kingdom, which lasted from around 940 to 586 BC before being destroyed by the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar, was centered in Jerusalem. A few kilometers from the Old City, in the modern day west Jerusalem neighborhood of Arona, excavators from the Israel Antiquities Authority discovered the remains of a compound with parts of its ancient ashlar walls still visible. (Photo by MENAHEM KAHANA / AFP) (Photo by MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP via Getty Images)

The article, by Institute of Archeology professor Yosef Garfinkel, appeared recently in the peer-reviewed institute publication Jerusalem Journal of Archeology.

In the study, Garfinkel examines five sites in particular — Khirbet Qeiyafa, Beth Shemesh, Tell en-Naṣbeh, Khirbet ed-Dawwara and Lachish.

Garfinkel’s findings support the claim that the kingdom began expanding into the Shephelah region southwest of Jerusalem, a transitional area of rolling hills between the coastal plain to the west and the Judean Mountains to the east, as early as the 10th century BCE.

That contradicts previous beliefs that the expansion occurred in the late 9th or 8th century BCE, 200 to 300 years after the reign of King David.

Garfinkel explained, “The evidence was known before, it is not a matter of new discoveries. What was needed was someone to come along and observe the complete picture that these findings portray. I am glad that I was able to fulfill that role.”

A picture taken on July 22, 2020, shows clay figurines of women unearthed at an excavation site, dating back to the Kingdom of Judah 2700 years ago, in Jerusalem. – A large collection of seal impressions dating back 2,700 years unveiled in Jerusalem this week offers rare new details about the administration in the ancient kingdom of Judah, including tax collection. The kingdom, which lasted from around 940 to 586 BC before being destroyed by the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar, was centered in Jerusalem. A few kilometers from the Old City, in the modern day west Jerusalem neighborhood of Arona, excavators from the Israel Antiquities Authority discovered the remains of a compound with parts of its ancient ashlar walls still visible. (Photo by MENAHEM KAHANA / AFP) (Photo by MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP via Getty Images)

The excavations that formed the basis of these conclusions were conducted by Saar Ganor from the Israel Antiquities Authority and Professor Michael Hazel from Southern Adventist University in Tennessee.

Radiometric dating confirms that Khirbet Qeiyafa and Beth Shemesh date from the first quarter of the 10th century BCE, which is when it is believed that David ruled from the Judean capital of Jerusalem as the third king of the United Kingdom of Israel.

In the Bible, the southern Shephelah expansion occurred during the time of David’s grandson and Solomon’s son and successor Rehoboam, who according to biblical accounts was the first monarch of the Kingdom of Judah after the split of the United Kingdom of Israel.

All the cities studied were fortified with a casemate city wall, located on the kingdom’s border and on a main road leading into the kingdom, indicating that the Kingdom of Judah was strong at the time, with the ability to build well-fortified cities at its borders protecting the main roads leading into the capital, Jerusalem.

“The discovery of a barrier wall in this area effectively defines the boundaries of the urban core of the Kingdom of David, putting an end to the longstanding historical debate surrounding the existence of the kingdom and its borders,” said Garfinkel.

“This finding provides tangible evidence on the ground, dated to the relevant period, supporting the biblical accounts of King Rehoboam’s expansion and fortification as described in the Book of Chronicles. It is a rare instance where we can present empirical historical and archeological evidence aligning with biblical narratives from the 10th century B.C.”

Produced in association with Jewish News Syndicate

Edited by Kyana Jeanin Rubinfeld and Alberto Arellano