New Radiocarbon Findings Reignite Discussion on David and Solomon's Biblical Kingdom

Quincy Jon, Tech Times 16 November 2023, 02:11 pm

A radiocarbon study at Gezer in central Israel, published in PLOS ONE, has rekindled debates over biblical tales, notably those about Kings David and Solomon.

Dr. Lyndelle Webster led the study of early 10th-century B.C.E. ruins alongside international scholars from the Austrian Archaeological Institute, Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee, and the Israel Antiquities Authority. According to Haaretz, the recent discoveries dispute archeological views, particularly from King Solomon's building period.

Gezer, an ancient tel with a 3,600-year history, has been a point of dispute in the academic discussion about the United Monarchy, generally associated with David and Solomon. The ruins studied include defensive walls, gates, and a large administrative building, all believed to have been constructed during the purported time of Solomon, according to biblical accounts.

Credible Evidences

While the study doesn't definitively prove the existence of the United Monarchy, it introduces a nuanced perspective that adds complexity to the ongoing discourse. Dr. Webster, the lead author, noted that the results were unexpected. "I was expecting later dates, similar to what we see in settlements further north. But something different is going on here that we can't yet explain."

The debate over the United Monarchy has been a longstanding and contentious issue in biblical archaeology. The study's findings challenge previous assertions that structures such as the six-chambered gates found at Gezer and other sites in northern Israel were built in the ninth century B.C.E., a century after the time traditionally ascribed to David and Solomon.

Dr. Samuel Wolff, an archaeologist co-heading the Gezer excavation, emphasizes that the study's samples were collected from well-defined contexts, providing credibility to the results.

However, critics, including prominent archaeologist Prof. Israel Finkelstein, argue that the study lacks essential contextual information, particularly regarding associated pottery finds.

Other Studies Proving David and Solomon's Kingdom

According to Creation Ministries, excavations conducted across various sites in Israel suggest significant cultural shifts occurring around 1000 BC, aligning with the biblical narrative of the nation's transition from judgeship to monarchy. During the era known as Iron Age I, characterized by the rule of judges, numerous small village settlements were prevalent.

However, the subsequent period, Iron Age IIA, corresponding with the reigns of David and Solomon, witnessed the emergence of new cities built over existing villages and in previously uninhabited locations. Notable features include fresh city walls and fortifications, indicative of central planning.

Moreover, the construction patterns suggest external contributions of labor or financing, suggesting the ascent of centralized governance capable of providing necessary oversight and resources.

A recent study by Hebrew University archaeologist Prof. Yosef Garfinkel suggests King David built a centralized administration in Judah.

In a feature by the Armstrong Institute of Biblical Archaeology, he addressed the ongoing debate in archaeology surrounding the historicity of King David and the existence of a kingdom during his time. Disputing claims that posit King David as a fictional figure and challenge the presence of a kingdom in the 10th century B.C.E., Garfinkel emphasizes the importance of data collection from archaeological sites to substantiate theories.

Through excavations at Khirbet Qeiyafa and Khirbet al-Ra'i, Garfinkel presents contrasting findings. Khirbet Qeiyafa, identified as a significant fortified city, exhibits specific urban planning with a casemate city wall—a structure with inner and outer parallel walls separated by rooms. In contrast, Khirbet al-Ra'i reveals a smaller village with limited remnants from the time of King David.

Garfinkel underscores the implications of Khirbet Qeiyafa's urban planning, citing similarities found in the fourth level of Beth Shemesh during further research.

"You cannot find Solomon. But we have traditions that in the time of Solomon, there were intensive royal activities-building activities in Jerusalem, like a palace and a temple. And in Khirbet Qeiyafa, we have a building model, an elaborate model, that has the same architectural features that appear in the Bible in relation to the building activities of Solomon. So, you can see that this type of royal building was known in Jerusalem at the time of David and Solomon," Professor Yosef Garfinkel noted, as quoted in Armstrong's article.