Watchman Newsletter

New study in the City of David sheds light on events mentioned in the Bible

Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Link) - IAA Spokesperson (May 2, 2024)

A new scientific study of unprecedented scope has managed to accurately date findings from the First Temple period that were discovered in the city of David, shedding light on events mentioned in the Bible.

Among the conclusions of the research conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority, Tel Aviv University and the Weizmann Institute of Science is that already in the 10th century BCE – the days of King David – extensive activity was carried out in Jerusalem; by the 9th century BCE – the days of King Jehoash ad possibly even earlier, the city expanded to the west towards Mount Zion; the city wall unearthed in the City of David was not built during the days of Hezekiah as part of the preparations for the Assyrian siege, but rather earlier, during the days of King Uzziah, subsequent to the earthquake that occurred in Jerusalem

The new and comprehensive scientific research conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority, Tel Aviv University, and the Weizmann Institute of Science has, for the first time, succeeded in using exact science to link events mentioned in the Bible to archaeological findings unearthed in the city of David. The research, published this week in the prestigious journal PNAS, challenges some of the perceptions that have been accepted until now regarding the construction activities of Jerusalem during the reigns of the kings of Judah.

As part of the new and comprehensive research, the researchers managed to accurately date the structures and walls built in Jerusalem during the First Temple period and to identify areas where there was extensive activity during the reigns of the kings of Judah. In doing so, it became possible to correlate between the biblical description of the royal construction activities in Jerusalem and the actual building activities uncovered in excavations over the past few decades in the City of David.

The research, which lasted almost a decade in the excavations of the City of David National Park, funded by the City of David Foundation (Elad), was spearheaded by researchers from Tel Aviv University, the Israel Antiquities Authority, and the Weizmann Institute of Science, and was funded by the Israel Science Foundation.

Unique First Temple “Governor” Seal Unearthed in Jerusalem

Patterns of Evidence (Link) - Lora Gilb (May 2, 2024)

1 Kings 4:19 (ESV)
Geber the son of Uri, in the land of Gilead, the country of Sihon king of the Amorites and of Og king of Bashan. And there was one governor who was over the land.

Seal Presented to the Mayor

A unique discovery was made during archaeological excavations carried out in the Western Wall Plaza, Jerusalem, a few years ago, on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) and in conjunction with the Western Wall Heritage Foundation. The important find was a First Temple period clay seal, stamped with the phrase “[belonging] to the governor of the city.” This adds to the growing number of recent finds supporting the Bible’s account of Jerusalem being the center of a robust kingdom in the First Temple period from the days of kings David and Solomon down to the Babylonian captivity. 

The tiny but extraordinary find measures just a little over half an inch in diameter and .12 inches in thickness. The upper portion of the seal depicts two figures facing each other and below that is the ancient Hebrew inscription.

It is a mystery as to what exactly the seal was used for, but most likely, it was attached to an important letter or document. The position of governor was the most prominent municipal position in Jerusalem, 2,700 years ago. 

The Mayor of Jerusalem, Nir Barkat was presented the “governor” seal during his visit to the Davidson’s Center, near the Western Wall, in February. “It is very overwhelming to receive greetings from First Temple period Jerusalem. This shows that already 2,700 years ago, Jerusalem, the capital of Israel, was a strong and central city,” said Barkat at the presentation.

Report: Saudi Arabia has decided to normalize relations with Israel

Cleveland Jewish News (Link) - Joshua Marks (April 30, 2024)

Saudi Arabia has decided to normalize relations with Israel and is debating the timing of the announcement, a foreign diplomat familiar with the details told Haaretz on Monday.

According to the source cited in the article by the daily’s diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Lis, Riyadh is discussing whether to make the move in the coming weeks or after the U.S. presidential election this November, in which either Democrat Joe Biden will continue to lead the country or his challenger Republican Donald Trump will return to the White House.

“The question is when, and the decision on the timing should be made within days,” the diplomat said.

While the Biden administration has been pushing to connect a pathway to Palestinian statehood as part of the Saudis joining the Abraham Accords, the source said that the kingdom would only demand guarantees on progress towards achieving that goal in return for establishing diplomatic ties with Jerusalem.