According to Yosef Garfinkel, an archaeologist and professor at the Institute of Archaeology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, there is evidence to suggest that King David from the Bible could have ruled over a significant kingdom that encompassed fortified cities around Jerusalem.

His findings, which indicate organized urban settlements dating back to around 1,000 BCE, align with the timeline of King David’s reign as documented by the institution and published in the Jerusalem Journal of Archaeology.

Garfinkel’s research challenges previous beliefs and proposes that these urban cities may have been established over 200 years earlier than previously thought, during the Iron Age when King David ruled from 1104 to 960 BCE.

His study suggests that these cities were characterized by two parallel walls at their center and a network of organized roads, implying a connection to a unified kingdom, as reported by the New York Post.

However, it is worth noting that not all experts agree with Garfinkel’s historical findings, and further research and analysis are required to fully assess and comprehend the significance of his discoveries.

In his paper, Garfinkel also reveals that the recently discovered ruins of five cities, namely Khirbet Qeiyafa, Tell en-Naṣbeh, Khirbet ed-Dawwara, Lachish, and Beth Shemesh, were located within a half-day to a day’s walk from Jerusalem, situated to the north and west of the city.

It’s important to note that Garfinkel’s findings did not come from excavations but rather through a meticulous examination of old archaeological publications.

Garfinkel clarified his intentions by stating, “I hate to use the term ‘trying to prove the Bible,’ because I’m not trying to prove anything.”

He emphasized that his research aims to explore the historical memories associated with biblical traditions.

However, he acknowledged that not every aspect is necessarily historically accurate, as errors, wishful thinking, and ideological influences can sometimes be present.

Garfinkel’s approach focuses on assessing the extent to which these biblical traditions align with archaeological evidence, allowing for a nuanced understanding of the past without seeking absolute validation or debunking of biblical accounts.

Written by staff