Archaeology of Jerusalem in Biblical Times

8/3/2019 Archaeology of Jerusalem in Biblical Times

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Week 1

Audio recording started: 11:48 AM Wednesday, November 09, 2011

"Jerusalem" in; E.Stern (Ed.); The Encyclopedia of Archaeological Excavations of the Holy Land 1990, Vol. 2,

pp. 598-702 E13(03) A957

1.

Historical

Atlas of Je...

2.

Canaanite Jerusalem (chapter 2) pp.28-42 in: Ben-Dov, M. Historical, Atlas of Jerusalem3.

EAE entry

Jerusalem ...

4.

The Archaeology of Jerusalem in Biblical Times

Understanding the term "The City of David"-

Course ends in 586 (the end of the 1st temple period)-

Canaanite Jerusalem

Refer to the times of the early Israelites on through to the Monarchy-Between the end of the 13th century BCE until the first Monarch (Saul) around the end of the 11th Century

BCE

-

The Time of the United Monarchy 10 Century BCE-Divided Monarchy 9 - 6 Century BCE-

Canaanite Period corresponds to the Bronze Age. (The main raw material used to this time was bronze)-Later comes the Iron age, which corresponds to the Iron Age.-

Bronze Age 3500 - 1200 BCE Canaanite Period

Iron Age 1200/1150 - 586 BCE Kingdom of Israel

Calcolithic Period 5000-4500 - 3500 BC

Early Bronze I-III 3500-2350 BC First Cities in Canaan

Early Bronze IV 2350-2000 BC Deserted Cities People are Nomadic

Middle Bronze 2000-1550 BC Cities Repopulated

Late Bronze 1550 - 1150 BC Israelites Appear

Iron Age I Joshua-Judges 1150-950 BC Settlement Period

Iron Age II Samuel -Kings 950-586 BC Monarchy Period

What are biblical times?

The New Wall was built in the Ottoman Empire in the 16th Century CE

The Modern Temple Mount - 6th Century CE sits on the Ruins of the 2nd temple built by Herod in the 1 Century CE

Temple Mount Occupies the Northern part of the City, above the southbound city of David.

Kidron Valley - the Eastern boundry of Jerusalem. Originally 50 Meters deeper (trash dumping).

The City is stacked up like a cake.

Ancient Israel has nothing to do with Modern Boundaries-

The Geographic Setting of Israel

Never only one King-

There were many kingdoms ruled by different Kings-

These small kingdoms were know as City -states.-In the Middle of the bronze age, Egypt ruled over Canaan, Jerusalem was a city-state with a King over it.-

Jerusalem is restricted to the city of David-

Bronze Age Canaan

north

south

Siwan

Pool

Kidron Valley

Week 1Wednesday, November 09, 2011

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The remains of a city.-WHAT THE HECK IS A TEL?

Pictures: of Meddigo, Hatzor, BeitShawn

Meggido Hazor

A cite where people have lived and changed the land and can be researched.-

The Remains that they left behind are know as: Material Culture-Main remains (Buildings, the Wall) and Small remains (pots, etc.)-

Graves can tell us a lot about the religion of the People (How the body is placed, etc.)-

A tel is a multi-period cite that becomes this layered h ill.-A single period cite can become a tel (A period can be 1000 or more years long).-A one layer tel (one stratum) is where people lived once and left.-

Is a multi-layer tel of 22 layers (Strata - Stratum)

Started in the Early Bronze Age

Started by the Canaanites

JERUSALEM-

What is an Archaeological Site?

The remains of an abandoned/destroyed site are covered with time by sand carried away by the wind.

Together with the collapse of its walls, the remains of the ear ly settlement are hardly visible.

-

The new settlers didnt remove the debris of the former settlement; instead they leveled these debris and

built their new houses over the ruins.

-

The FORMATION OF A TEL:

Grandfather of Modern Arch.-Designed Modern Dig system.-

Sir FLINDERS PETRI 1890

Sufficient Land-Water (Jerusalem has the Gihon Spring which flows in the Kidron Valley)-

Communication, routes-Defendable position (most Canaanite City state were founded on valleys were good land was available and did

not have a good defendable position. They built walls to defend themselves, also ramparts.) In the Late

Bronze Age had almost no Canaanite city-states in the East (Hilly) Only Shechem, Jerusalem, Hebron

-

What were the prerequisites of an ancient Tel settlement?

We do not excavate a whole strata, just an "area"

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Field Trip 9am-12

Dec. 2 - City of David

Dec. 9 - Jewish Quarter

Dec. 16 - City of David

Dec. 30 -

Excavation - January 10th 7-2pm

CANAANITE JERUSALEM (the Bronze Age)

Gives us knowledge of early Iron age/biblical age JR

Mentioned in Cuneiform tablets from Late Bronze Age-

Around 1200 BC Canaan was ruled by Egyptians and left around

this time after more than 400 hundred years of direct rule.

-

Jerusalem know finds itself clear from any outward interest and

the small countries now struggle for hegemony in the land.

-

These early texts we taken with the Egyptians and the land was

left without anyone experienced in writing texts.

-

Mainly between 12 and 850 BCE

Only the biblical narrative serves as the written source to tell

us what is going on in the biblical history.

For example, Masha king of Moab left a tall stele

detailing the king position of the king of Moab under

the vasselship of King Omrey.

When we have extra biblical texts again at the end of the

850 BCE, and we compare it to the biblical narrative, it

almost fits perfectly with the biblical narrative.

From 12th century on:-

12-850 BCE we are left without biblical text with only the biblical

narrative as evidence for what is going on.

-

We need to compare all of these stories and prove them as

historical.

It is always chronological in its progression / almost a

historiographical creation.

Why cant we take the bible as is?-

Where can we put our flag on this continuing story to represent

the time period from which this story is historical by modern

definition?

-

Should we dismiss everything and say we rely only on arch?-

King David ruled over Jerusalem, Israel, a substantial

monarchy which was later divided.

David ruled over a small tribe, in a small territory.

Two schools of thought regarding early history of Israelites.

We have no other evidence of a united monarchy ONLY in

the BN.

Many of the earlier stories, when compared to arch, are not

attested by historians (e.g. The Wildness Epic)

The united monarchy with Jerusalem as a center is not accepted as

real history.

-

"Divided" Kingdom ViewWe should not use DIVIDED MONARCHY because there never was

a single united monarchy.

-

Then Omry set capitcal in Samaria.

Northern Kingdom Captial: Shechem (King Jerobaum the First)

then Pennuel, and Hirzah.

-

Southern Kingdom of Judah with Jerusalem as Capital.-

Jerusalem in Early Times

Prof's Veiw: Jerusalem was the capital of a certain kingdom ruled by King David. It is importan

the two different understanding of the history of this land with Jerusalem being either a large

kingdom in the United Monarchy Period (Tenth Century)

In the book of Kings 1 and 2, it begins with

Outside sources (King Hezekiah rules at the very end of the 8th century 701 BCE S

destroys Judah)

Israel Judah

X 20 x

X 70 x

X 20 x

X 1 x

X etc X

Ahab mentioned by name in an Assyrian Text by an important ruler,

Shalmanezer the Third (853 BCE). A stele that Shal left behind mentio

is his 22nd year that he ruled Assyria.

We date this with the occurrence of astronomical events.

We rely on the Egyptian and Assyrian Chronicles

We rely on Synchronism-

We count on the biblical Narrative the number of years assigned to each on

biblical kings as each one mentioned in the biblical narrative, we have no ot

to refute it and we see that alone. We need to look at other things.

-

Etc.

Ahad 874

Omry 886-874 BCE 12 Years-

The kings up to Jerobaum the 1st, who was the first Israelite Kings and ruled

beginning of 10th century, we count 40 and 40 years back from there (Davi

Soloman 828)

-

Shishak the Pharaoh (first one mentioned by name in the BN)

4 years after the death of Soloman, Shishak campaigned in Israel, so a

BCE King Solomon Dies.

David 1008-968 BCE

Other Kings that reigned for more than 40 years and only get a mentio

In 925 BCE-

We are looking for overlap of the kings. Every now and then they do and that give

information.

968 TO 928 BCE (10th Century)-

RULE OF Soloman

An Eponym


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years a er e ea o o oman, s a campa gne n srae, so a

BCE King Solomon Dies.

David 1008-968 BCE

Jeroboam 2nd--

Other Kings that reigned for more than 40 years and only get a mentio

text, showing us that Solomon and David represent the glory period:

The entire time period of the United Monarchy is possibly not purpos

Historical but have another reason.

Stories in the 9th century in the bible match up almost exactly to historical -We have no evidence of Soloman/Davidic Jerusalem (the united monarchy)-About ten of the kings are mentioned in Extra biblical texts-

Good for the world (as many empires took Jerusalem as their center) bad for Arch!-These empires left there mark burying the remains as they went.-

Some scholars look at the absence of 10th century remains in Jerusalem as a direct result of the long history of building in Jerusalem.

Not a full explanation.

Regarding the united Monarchy:-

JERUSALEM IS THE CENTER OF THE WORLD

Beit Shawn-

Artificial mound of layers of different time periods of a city.

Jerusalem is different than any other tel, because it is still occupied today.

City of David is the earliest part of the tel.

The Gihon spring was the reason in the beginning of the bronze age to settle in the city of David.

Tel-

TOPOGRAPHY

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Gihon Spring/Silom Pool

City of David is 5 Hectors at the Most-One of the smallest settlements in the land of

throughout the Iron Age.

-

(Even smaller that Beer Sheva)-Central or Cheese

Makers Valley >>

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For Next Week:

Knauf, E.A. 2000 Jerusalem in the Late Bronze and Early Iron Age: A proposal, Tel-Aviv 27:77-90

Steiner, M. 1994 Redating the terraces of Jerusalem

2 Weeks:

Na'aman, N. 1996

The Contribution of the Aramana Letters to the Debate on Jerusalem's political position in the tenth century BCE Basor

304.17-27

THE EARLY CANAANITE PERIOD JERUSALEM

The Geographical Setting

See week 2 Chart

New kingdom est. by David-

Solomon enlarges the city by adding temple mount.-

United/10th century monarchy is this Jerusalem-The kidron valley is fifteen meters higher than its original depth today.-

On the other side we have the central valley or the cheesemakers valley (named by joe) Greek name: Tyropeon

Valley which is now no longer visible. You see where it was by looking at the modern road that looks through.

-

THE MODERN ROAD is not a good indicator of the western boundry, because there are more remains right outside

this boundry (where we will be digging) We dont really know how much further to the west that we can take this

boundry, but it must not have been so much further because the central valley begins.

-

Remains go down very deep (Goes down through more than 10 meters ancient "fill"

SHOWING THE CITY OF DAVID DIG:-

Atlas from 1990 - Dan Bahat

1990 - a time when Jerusalem opened a new wave of large scale excavations that changed our

understanding of many of the different periods represent at the cite.

It is important to know that the city of David is the most excavated and excavated by more than 40 different

to note that some of the more shocking conclusions are supported by more than just one Arch.

More than 40 different exhibitions have dug in City of David, making it the most dug cite in all of Israel.-

Jerusalem is ruled by the Ottomansi.

In those days they dug deep shafts into the ground (spoiling remains) and then cut horizontal tunnels

in which they could get as close as possible to the temple mount. Because the Turkish would not let

him get close to the walls of the temple mount, so he did it this way. We might get to see thesetunnels.

ii.

Many people at this time where coming to Jerusalem to find the treasure of the temple.iii.

He found Warren's Shaft (Hez Tunnel) - started at the kidron spring in a wide tunnel known by the

Turkish (they cut out a message left there by the ancients) and by doing this he uncovered another

tunnel, which meets a large shaft and meets another tunnel and also meets another tunnel entrance.

(Tunnel was a water system from Middle Bronze Age )

iv.

Sir Charles Warren - 18861.

Swedish?i.

Dug near hez tunnel/ early canaanite caveii.

Lui Vinson went with him and documented everything and published in 1902iii.

Parker thought he knew were the treasure was from the Temple from a "Bible Code"iv.

Montague Parker 19012.

R. A. Stewart Macalister 1902-19093.

Hatzor, Megiddo, and Gezeri.Was Irishii.

Kings 15:16 - King Solomon constructed these three cities, he excavated Gezer and Jerusalem.iii.

The methods that he used was not good. He opened a deep trench, exavated the whole thing, and then

opened another one, and filled the other with dirt from the new one. He did this in both Jerusalem and

Gezer.

iv.

EXCAVATORS OF THE CITY OF DAVID:-

The mother of modern Arch in this land.i.

ii.

Excavated in Jerusalem and in also Samaria, and in Jericho (came out with the conclusion that Jericho wasiii.

Kathleen Kenyon4.


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never inhabited by a large city)

Worked in Jerusalem mainly in the 50's and early 60's.iv.

Middle Bronze Age wall1)

Israelite City wall2)

Two walls:i.

One of the most important areas she excavated was from upper part of the city of David down to the Kidron

valley. She did this in order to find the city walls of city.

v.

Gihon Spring brings Canaanite settlers to the city of David at the beginning of the 4 century BCE (E. Bronze).-

Agricultural Evidence.-Changes taking place in the East (Akkad and Babylonia) start to effect the West (Canaan modern Lebanon)-

This is called the Urban revolution, the first time ever cities were constructed in the area of Canaan.-

Cities, settlements with walls that were well planned out.-

We do not know the original EBA settlement boundries of Jerusalem, but we do know what this is the first timepeople lived there.

-

Vinson (Parker) shows caves where early canaanite settlers lived (drew their pottery)-

Excavations of Shiloh in the 70 and early 80s ex many areas of the eastern city of David. He excavated buildings

there that showed that these were EBA remains. These buildings were typical of the age with a rectangular room

with a support pillar and benches around (broad house) .

-

Tel Arad best example of EBA settlement.-

EARLY BRONZE AGE FINDINGS

The stones are the foundation. Rock in the Middle is to support the

Wooden pillar. The rest of the house was made of mud brick. The door i

in a broad side (its a broad house). Note the benches and also the base

For the pillar that supported the wooden roof. The benches are shelves

To place pottery on.

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Canaanite Jerusalem Cont.'

Iron Age II 1000BCE - 586BCE

Canaanite/Bronze AGE

These rooms had no windows.-

This was the first settlement in Jerusalem.-

THE ARRADIAN HOUSE - THREE ROOM HOUSE

First half of the second millennium-

Egypt starts to play a major role in Canaan-

Most probably rules Canaan but leaves some autonomy-

Were seeking cedar wood-

There is never a time when one ruler is ruling over canaan, seems to be a vassal situation with regional kings over

cities (city-states).

-

Middle bronze age

Short inscriptions of figurines which include curses against people and places considered hostile to Egypt. There

are three groups of these: bowls, dolls (the ea rliest known list of cities and regions in Palestine). Written in hieratic

hieroglyphs. They were intentionally broken and put together in the ground. Scholars think they served in certain

Egyptian ceremonies where we believe priests thought if they broke these figures they would conquer the cities

listed on the dolls before they went to battle.

These give us an idea of which cities existed during the middle bronze age without excavation.-

Jerusalem is mentioned on this doll as (Reshalim)-

The execration texts (ca.1900-1800 bce)

It is sealed by another city wall that is used as the iron age wall as a foundation-

Fortied by massive city wall which was exposed by G.SHILOH-MBA is characterized by these huge building projects (at shechem and jerusalem). Walls are huge with large

boulders.

-

This wall was uncovered only by the gihon spring. Past there they have found no remains of the city, it was

probably a small southern fortress and encircled the southern end of the hill

-

First fortified wall in Jerusalem in MBA

Warrens shaft system:

Entered from the gihon spring, the hez. Tunnel entrance.-

Two different phases: part of this was done in the middle bronze age. That line near the number one the old

thought was that this whole thing was a water system. The water system was by warren dated to the iron age (in

1888). 100 years later Shiloh opened the entire system in 1970's and agreed that the water system should be

dated to the iron age because there were no other earlier water systems them that. Early iron age because the

system is primitive. And if it is early in the iron age maybe it served during the time of david in the 10th century

(more complicated systems didnt show up until the 9th century). Maybe from chronicles account where david's

warriors touch the (cube)

1.

According to new understanding there are two other phases here, the upper one is the earlier one and the earlier

one is the later one. With the first tunnel, the people where not aware of the shaft during the mba and the tunnel

simply led a large pool which collected water from the gihon spring. Only the elite people had the key to get into

the coridor which funneled the water. Normal people used the tunnel and the pool.

2.

The gihon spring tower - in the mba this tower held the spring, this wall is still in some spots standing eight meters3.

high.

In the eigth century there was another phase of cutting in which they came across the upper part of the shaft. This

means shilohs theory of the shaft in davids time no longer works.

4.

By the iron age, there are buildings being built within the pool.5.

The actual shaft is natural. Only the entrance is dug out6.

New evidence found in the excavation of the warren's shaft.

In the 19th century bce caravans from Canaanite, Syria, and Lebanon. 1650 bce -1550-

What is happening in egypt right now in the MBA?

1. Pool

Tunnel to the pool


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These Semites developed the 14,15,16th dynasties in Egypt.-

For one hundred years these Semites ruled.-

Showing a wall painting in a 12th dynasty tomb at beni hasan in Egypt in 1900 bce-

Hik-sos = foreign rulers-

The 17th dynasty is consisting of only local pharaohs after they kicked out the Semites; Who then found shelter in

Canaan

-

Thutmose III (1505/1480 - 1490/1425 bce) - the battle of Megiddo and the establishment of the Egyptian empire.-

Yahmes founds the 17th dynasty.-

LATE In the late bronze age all city states are lacking fortifications because egypt came and attacked Canaan.-

Egypt rules canaan for 400 years 1550-1150 bce.-

Late bronze age?

Married to naphratiti-

Decided to make atem the son god the major god-

Founded new capital in egypt (only in his time) where we have gotten the amarna tablets. These contain manyletters between egypt and canaan.

-

Some from the king of jerusalem; Adbi-Heba (six or seven letters)-

Amenhotep IV - Achenaten

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Steiner, M. 1998; David's Jerusalem: Fiction or Reality? BAR 24 (4) 25,33,65

-we need these articles for the final.

Cahil, J. 1998. The Archaeological Evidence: Prove It BAR 1998, 24: (4) 34-41?),

Field Trip (9am sharp at Northern Gate of Student Village - over at 12pm)

Iron Age Jerusalem I

The land was occupied by Egypt

We have a small piece of Abdi-Heba tablet from his achieve in Jerusalem (Horawitz).

we hardly know anything about Jerusalem in that time, but because of the Amarna letters we do have 6-7

documents that mention Jerusalem. Some of these where sent directly by the king of Jerusalem (a vassel

king) Abdi-Heba.

Canaanite Jerusalem ended in the late bronze age; a period from with there is not much arch. evidence.-

LBA ended sometime in the 12th BCE.

The entire political order which existed more than 400 years throughout the late bronze age.

In the beginning of the 12th Century they destroyed the people of the North, the Hittite empire 1180.

Ramses his son writes about this in Papyrus one - his father moved the sea people to the cities.-

In 1175 these people fought Egypt; Ramses III (1182-1151) and the Egyptians won the battle (but lost

the war because the refugees caused the Egyptians to move out of Canaan

Mostly came by sea.

The Sea People (on the shore Canaan)

Canaanites (very weak, many of their city-states where destroyed

These groups are fighting each other, and in the north there is no substantial power

because the Hittites

Israelites!

These people are:-

1150 - END of the LBA (the Egyptians leave Canaan, and for the first time in more than 1000's years

Canaan is not under the scope of any big empire, and small powers are allowed to take over.)

This political system starts to change dramatically at the end of the 13th century with a large group of

people which came from the west (Aegeans (modern Greece)/sea people) unto to coast of Canaan. They

came as warriors and also as part of a forced migration.

In his 5th year he had a campaign against the Lybia? (1207)

Ashkolan-

Gezer-

Ye-noam-

At the end of this stele we see that he entered Canaan:

The first time we see the name Israel in Extra Biblical Text-Also had business with "I srael"

The first time arch mentions the Israelites is on a stele from Egypt in the tomb of the son of Rames II

(1278-1213) 66 year rule!


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Jerusalem in the IA1

Jerusalem in the capital of an empire stretching from modern Elate and up to the Euphrates to the

city of Typsach (Sp?)

-

So they went from the circle above to a huge empire BUT this is a biblical view, there is NO

evidence to support that there was a kingdom here in the 10th century with a united monarchy.

-

If we were to go back and see the r eal empire, what would it look like? Perhaps like the small

aforementioned area.

-

David and Solamon - 10th century-

9th century with two kingdoms is clearly historical.-

The Omry period is the beginning of the biblical history.-

So what to with the 10th century? Is this the non-historical narrative or push it with the Omry

period.

-

The easiest way to find this answer is to excavate Jerusalem and see if we can date the 10th

century to a united monarchy, then we can add the UM to the historical narrative of the Bible.

But no such luck yet.

-

From 1995 on there is a branch or arch that claims that the UM is not historical narrative.-

Earlier than the 8th century

Tells us that there is a certain period of time where a powerful king which

Built this here.

The step stone structure from the IAII of Jerusalem

The towers from the second temple period

End of 9-end of 8th BC in the IA

These buildings are known as the four room house of Ahiel

The buildings against the steps -

Are up against them. So earlier than the 9th century.

Built on the eastern side of the city of David to as a retaining-

Wall so that the large building that was built...could be

Built. They enlarged the hill to build the building.

The steps themselves. - the steps are earlier because the buildings

Three main periods represented:

What is the step stone structure?

Some of Iron age Jerusalem is very clear: 6-7? Time of Hezekiah

We are left with almost nothing from this time.Unclear: 9-10 centuries

Area G is ex cavated in the City of David-

What did Jerusalem have to say?

The next step after the settlement is Monarch of David

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Monday, December 12, 2011

12:57 PM

New Section 1 Pa e 12


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Mazar, A 2010. Arch and the Biblical Narrative: the case of the United Monarchy pp.29 -581.

R.G Kratz and H. Spierkermann (eds) : One God - One cult - One Nation: Arch and biblical perspectives.

Week 6

Audio recording started: 11:35 AM Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Jerusalem in the Iron Age II

The united monarchy?-The tenth century is divided into 2 different half, the first being David's reign, the second being Solomon.-

Davidic Jerusalem?a.

According to the biblical text, yes, but if the arch is different in that time, it means that these stories are not

historically correct.

-

Most of the expeditions have found no evidence of the united monarchy in the 10th century. So if Jerusalem

is not there, is David also not an historical figure?

-

Was the city fortified during this time period? Could we see large structure on a hill?b.

Late 60's and continue til five years ago.

He claimed to kill David's son, of the house of David, the Davidic Dynasty 1000-960.

Ahaz Jahu ruled no more than two years and ruled at the same time as Yoaram. At the

time these two kingdoms where not rivals but where cooperating against a third party.

His most important find of him was the small piece of the stele of King Hazael (aramaic king) in

the 2nd half of the 9th century:

David was an important king, so other kings would know him

His dynasty and name is continuing into the 2nd half of the 9th century, and the name is

synomous to the kingdom of Judah. We don't doubt then Solomon because we don't

doubt David.

The question is that Hazael mentions the Davidic Monarchy - it is the first time anyone has done

so, this stele is from more than 100 years after this so:

No, he could have just been a king ruling over a small kingdom who was the founder of a

dynasty.

If we have David as a king here in the 10th century, does it mean that we have a united

Monarchy? Yes or No and why?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tel_Dan_Stele

The death of Prof. Abraham Biran?

Has been exacvated many time.-

History of site started in the early BA-Huge city in MBA-In the beginning of the Iron Age with small settlement pits.-Major cities in IA2-

The beginning of the 10th century? UM!

The beginning of the 9th century? Stretch IA1 into the 10th century.

When did this transition take place?

A stele with name of King David? Yes! But that is not enough.

Jerusalem during David and Solomon was no bigger than the city of David. Such a large empire

as in the BT can not be a reality. So how big could it be?

Focusing on the wide wall in the upper SSS. She thought it was part of a large building

built that the same time as the SSS.

Is there really a connection between the building and the SSS?

If it is then we can date this to the time of David.

She believes that they were. She also believes the terrace walls that support

the SSS were built at separate times, the terraces are Jebusite (IA1) and the

SSS was built in IA2.

Where they built at the same time?

Questions:

The northern tower does not exist any more.

Claimed that the pottery found on the floor of one of the rooms in the wall was dated to

the time of David. Small Jug (psypophonian pottery)

Elat Mazar 2000 excavates the upper part of the SSS and this area was RExcavated this area(McAllister, Kathleen Kenyon)

How can we solve this problem? What do we need to find?

A king stands behind this transition to centralization and urbanization. People leave small settlements and

move to large cities.

-

Tel Dan, the northern most site in the land of Israel (from Dan to BeerSheva)c.

The capitals found in the kingdom of David by Kenyon and are dated to the 9th century, therefore they cannot bed.

Week 6Wednesday, December 21, 2011

11:26 AM

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in the palace of David.

??? Some say the building was built sometime within the 2 period with the mikvah inside of it.e.

The sss could not stand without the support underneath it. If that means that the sss must have been built

in the IR1, then why

a.

HIS opinion:f.

During the reign of David? The picture is vague .

The expansion of the city happened with the assyrian campaign.

Was Jerusalem fortified earlier than Hezekiah's (expanded wall) time?-

Fornications in the IA2

9th century, the east had become the most relevant influence with the expansion of the Assyrians westward.-

During his rule the ass army becomes a war machine. It threatened the entirety of Assyria and went all

the way down to Tyre. Almost getting to Israel.

Assyria becomes real empire under Ashurnasipal (883-859)

Shalmanezer the III had four campaigns against Qarqar in 853, 849, 848, 845. He failed each time. He met

the 12 kings, one of them being King Ahab, the king of Israel.

In 841 the ass succeeds to go beyond Qarqar and israel begins to pay tribue to Ass

At the end of the 10th century the Ass have been settled in the east and begin to move west,-

Assyrian threat during IA2

Elat Mazar integrates the SSS into her understanding

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Broshi. M. 1974

The Expansive of Jerusalem in the Reign of Hezekiah and the Manasseh,

Israel Exploration Journal 24:21-26

Week 7

Audio recording started: 11:40 AM Wednesday, December 28, 2011

According to some we should explain the absence of evidence of Jerusalem of the united Monarchy We do not

throw out the Jerusalem just because there is no evidence.

-

Scholars came out with the idea was that because that because Jerusalem was respectively settled, maybe

some of these bigger buildings are to blame, or expect that buildings were destroyed to build other

buildings, but the question is where are the pot sherds?

Unlike other cities, Jerusalem only suffered destruction once d uring the last part of the

This is the only city we know of that the Ass laid siege on but did not come away triumphant.

What can we say about this?:-

Jerusalem has two parts during the Iron age.

The History of Early Jerusalem in its later days

Jerusalem grows four times larger than the early city. NO question regarding its size.-

All the small things we have from early Jerusalem comes from this time period.-

Hezekiah 727 was witness to the final destruction of Jeru, and 5 years later Samaria was destroyed.-

In 701 Sinnacarab arrives to Judah and destroys the whole kingdom but Jerusalem.-

Jerusalem - the expansion of the town in the 8th century BCE

Assyria became an empire. Throughout the second mi llennium they were engaged in battles with the Babylonians.

But once the Assyrians overcome these difficulties they begin to look westward. (Syria, Lebanon, Israel)

-

Ashurnasirpal II (883-859) - ruled in the first half of the ninth century. He was different because he brought

Assyrian army into the status as a war machine. He took all the resources of his kingdom and gave it to the army.

The cruelty and the propaganda which was assigned to the whole world became widely known.

-

The earlier empires were smaller and more local, the Assyrians are the first real world empire.-

The Assyrians presented a new type of battering ram.-

Throughout the eighth and first half of ninth century the Assyrians could not get out of the habit of returning

home each year after they reached the last boundaries of their hegemony.

-

Ashurnasirpal II (conquered up to Tyre)-

The Assyrian empire and the West

The reality in Israel at this time is a split Israel.-

During this time Israel ruled over certain parts east of the Jordan river (N parts of Moab) in the 1st half of

9th century.

According to the mesha stele and the biblical narrative.

Omry founded the capital of Samaria.-

His empire including Syria, Lebanon, and north Israel.

Ahab king of Israel was among them.

Israel's king is listed 3rd in importance. This is important because we have no extra biblical texts

from the period before this, and we get here the information that the Omry's were a strong

dynasty and throughout there time the kingdom of Israel was a strong poli tical entity with a

strong army. Ahab contributed 2000 chariots to the coalition (no one believes that this is really

true) but it shows us that he is a strong force.

This year was recorded on obelisk left in Ass by SIII describing the campaign. Kurkh ---

Only a large coalition could meet the ass in open combat.

In 853 SIII launches campaign to the west like his father and meets 12 kings led by King of Aram/Damascus

and the King of Hamma (Irhulani)

Shalmaneser III - (859-824)-

There are iron age remains there with stables. These long structures were later dated to the 9th century.

This is one of the cities that housed part of this chariot forces in the 9th century.

On top the stable cities (9th century) - scholars think this is Omry city

Underneath an unfortified structure termed as "palaces" early iron age 2 (earliest 10th century)

At megiddo we have two iron age cities

This central authority points to a king.

Why is Megiddo relevant here?-

In Israel

According to the BN

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Underneath an unfortified structure termed as "palaces" early iron age 2 (earliest 10th century)

This central authority points to a king.

857

856 (around Affec)

853 (Ahab dies - around BethGilad)

Three times Ass attacks around Damascus/Samaria-

These dates are based on 853 - Shamanezer-

According to the BN

(12 years)- (22 years)-

(2 years)- (12 years/9 years)---------------------------------- mentioned in text left by SIII in 841 when Jaho surrenders-

Omride Kings:

These years we should add up to 855, but what we need to remember is that when the bible talks about a yearthey dont always mean a full year.

Could it mean that ahad could die in Damascus and also join the coalition. The biblical account is incorrect.Most scholars agree that these campaigns are anachronistic. Most think that these events really happened inthe time of Yaho.

Around 840 Hazael attacks the northern kingdom of Israel.

The inscription was set up about 840 BC as a memorial of Mesha's victories over "Omri king of Israel"and his son, who had been oppressing Moab. It is the most extensive inscription ever recovered thatrefers to ancient Israel (the "House of Omri"). It bears what is generally thought to be the earliest extra-biblical Semitic reference to the name Yahweh (YHWH), whose temple goods were plundered by Meshaand brought before his own god Kemosh. French scholar Andr Lemaire has reconstructed a portion of

line 31 of the stele as mentioning the "House of David".[1]

The Mesha Stele 840 - mentions:

The year of the war of SIII is the same year that Ahab was supposed to have died.

853

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The Assyrian Empire and the West

9th Century as a Starting point for the Assyians advancing Westward.

Ashurnasipal II

(883-859)

Cruelty becomes part of his technique to bring others under his power.-

Assyrian Cruelty = Propaganda.-

Balawat Gate shows what happens to those who do not bow to Assyrians.-

4th Mill Egyptian Battering Ram - earliest-

-

Assyrian Battering Ram-

-

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-

-

Capital is Samaria

Omerites are ruling

Kingdom of Israel is ruling over northern Moab

Around 853 the first battle of Qarqar SIII confronts 12 kings and loses (though he claims he wins on his Stela)

See the notes on his structures at Megiddo (chariot stables)

http://www.tau.ac.il/humanities/archaeology/projects/proj_past_jezreel.html

Tel Jezreal City - led by Hoshiky - another site where scholars think that horses were kept.

CONCLUSION: because of the stables at Megiddo scholars date that strata of Megiddo as during the time of Ahab, so the" palace s" underneath would

be 10th century, which points to large cities and a centralized king.

VA/IVB----------------------- "Palaces" 10 Century (King Soloman)

IVA ------------------- Stables 9th Century

These are the only two Iron Age Israelite Cities

During this time in Israel-

LOW chronology - There is nothing behind these stories and all political entites in Israel should be date no earlier then the Omries. So the stables would be

2nd half of the ninth. And the palaces city would be in the first half of the ninth. (ISRAEL FINKLESTEIN) There is no 10th century reality here at Meggido. Lower

-

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level is Ahab/

HIGH chronology - there is some history behind the united monarchy stories (BEN AMI)-

Israel in the (9th Century)

Omry then Jaho-

Dan Stele - King of Damascus-

(See Week 7)

-Mesha Stele (Week 8)

Mesha in the biblical account is after the Death of Ahab

Mesha claims that Ahab is still alive.

It describes Jaho as son of Omry which is incorrect.

The black Obelisk-

Need to consider: A ssyrians, Israelites, Aram, Moab

Describes SIII campaign in 841

Jaho is paying taxes and the Assyrians and Israel is no longer in a coalition.

This one is dated to 841 - we have a new dynasty in the land of Israel.

First King Mentioned by name in Biblical Account-If we had only the b ible we would know nothing about the A ssyrians in Israel until the 8th.-

In the time of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria came and took Ijon, Abel Beth Maakah, Janoah, Kedesh and Hazor. He took Gilead and

Galilee, including all the land of Naphtali, and deported the people to A ssyria.

The other time we have absolute chronology is in the 12th century (Rames 6th in 1136)

1150 beginning of IA1 Ram. III 1182-1150

All of these cities present a clear destruction layer at the end of the Iron Age. These must be dated to 732 because later on there is no Israelite material

culture.

2 Kings 15: 29-

-

In 733-732 - biblical account. Judah and Aram gang up against Israel Assyrians begin new front.-After 7-- Aram Damascus is destroyed by TIG-

TIG almost destroy entirety of Kingdom Israel but save Samaria because Samaria agree to replace the king (saved for 10 more years)-

Judah is outside the scope of this campaign.-

The citizens are moved out, the Assyrians are moved in.

After the destruction in 732, the entire land is now under Assyria and Israel is separated into Provinces, ruled by Officials.-

2 Kings

Shalmenser V laid seige over Samaria 722

Samaria is destroyed by Sargon the II in 722-

Tiglath-Pileser III (745-727) (Pul)

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Sennacherib 704-681First few years he was dealing with Babylon-

In 701 he reached the border of Judah.-First king who dared to destroy the city of Babylon.-

Relief from SENN palace in Nineveh. Found in the Lachish Room, which is covered with the relief of the Campaign against Lachi sh.

-

-

At the beginning of the 8th ce ntury Judah is the only independent Kingdom Left.-

NOTE: Hezekiah's 8th century expansion of the City to prepare for the coming Assyrians.-

-

Keyon and Shiloh exposed parts of the 8th century city wall.-

Siloam Inscriptions:-

As for the other events of Hezekiahs reign, all his achievements and how he made the pool and the tunnel by which he brought water into the city, are

they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah?

2 Kings 20:20-

Only Reich believes that this tunnel may not be from Hezekiah.-

Had two, 3, 4 handles, sometimes all stamped

Habron

Soho

Zeef

Mamshit - unknown location

Handles are stamped with typical Stamps with words "to the king" and one of four cities: (don't trust the spelling)

Maybe taxes?

We dont know what these sites meant:

Years that these were made were the years leading up to the Assyrian arrival (in 701)

Royal Judean Storage Jars (end of 8th century)

Hezekiah is getting ready for a long seige-

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Campaign-

The City of Lachish-

Royal Seals with Scarab.

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Thought to be the most important of all cities. Well planned and well fortified. (Jerusalem is not fortified until Hez in 8t h)-

The city is HUGE in the early 9th century, with two huge walls and a huge "palace"-The weakest part of the city is the side without a deep valley. At this point they Assyrians built their siege ramp.-

Six room city gate.

The king decides not to open the city Gate.-IN 701 the Assyrians come to Lachish.-

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The Reign of Hezekiah

Isaiah thinks that Hezekiah was not helped by the Egyptians. ?-

The Assyrians took the sea route, stopped at Jaffa, and moved to Elkakh (sp?) and then to Ekron and Timnah and

then camped at Lachish.

-

God saves Jerusalem when Assyria up and leaves the city.

Hezekiah pays the taxes for the city and the Assyrians leave.

We have two stories:-

The only example of a city that was not destroyed. However, if Hezekiah paid so much, why was not all of the

cities spared?

-

We know that Hez captured the king of Ekron, so he is a strong king,-

THEREFORE, we know that we c annot take the biblical account at completely accurate. All we can know is that

Jerusalem for some reason was not destroyed.

-

The kingdom of Judah is now ready for the Assyrians, Hezekiah is now ready for the siege.

Why camp out at Lachish and NOT Jerusalem?-

Lachish was heavily fortified during the early part of the 9th century. According to most scholars Lachish is the

most important city at this time. Only after the destruction of the northern kingdom did Jerusalem become so

important. People are seeking shelter in the southern expansion of the city in the shadow of the temple.

-

There was only one weak point at Lachish, and this is where the Assyrians decided to camp.-

Starki, the head of the expedition conducted 3-4 seasons of excavations, after he was invited to come to the

opening of the Rockefella museum. He was killed on the way to that party. His assistant, Olga Tuffner (sp?)

published the results of the excavations. Barcay dug with the Tel Aviv expedition.

-

-

Sennacharib at Lachish

Meggido

Hazor

Gezer

Lachish (9th century)

Ashdod (Philistine City)

Six chamber gate. (1 king 9 - soloman)-

The camp at the week point.-

The Siege Rampart - only Assyrian rampart in the Lavant.-

The Sennacherib Prism-

-

The city gate:

He seems to have gone home because he failed to c onquer Jerusalem.-

Igal --- recognized this as a ramp during a visit to the site, and Oshiskin (sp?) (correct) corrected his views.-

Wood planks were layed on the ramp and the battering ram was rolled up.-

During the excavations of the ramp they found a pro jecting tower (Oshiskin) - they found a picture of this tower in

the senn palace on a relief.

-

Translation: http://www.kchanson.com/ancdocs/meso/sennprism1.html

The Ramp

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Igal --- recognized this as a ramp during a visit to the site, and Oshiskin (sp?) (correct) corrected his views.-

Wood planks were layed on the ramp and the battering ram was rolled up.-

During the excavations of the ramp they found a pro jecting tower (Oshiskin) - they found a picture of this tower in

the senn palace on a relief.

-

They also know that the israelites built a contra-ramp in order to keep the Assyrians out longer.-

In the end Lachish was taken by the Assyrians. No one was spared, they were put on spears.-

Assyrian arrowheads, hundreds are found.-

-

Iron Age - st. 5 (10th century) unfortified city.

St. 4 - fortifications built, and then suffered some destruction (maybe the earthquake described in

earthquake in 760) 9th century

St. 3 is the city destroyed in 701

St. 2 is the city destroyed in 586.

701 = Stratum 3 at Lachish-

This is important to correlate findings of St. 3 with St. o f other cities (eg. Beer Sheba)-

Sir Layard who excavated Ninevah in 1850? And drew and excavated the entire palace of Sennacherib. The main

room (heart of the palace) of this palace is dedicated to Lachish.

-

http://www.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/en/resrep00_01/Jahresbericht_2_2_
http://www.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/en/resrep00_01/Jahresbericht_2_2_section.htmlhttp://www.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/en/resrep00_01/Jahresbericht_2_2_section.html

Archaeology of Jerusalem in Biblical Times

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