Page 8 - Holyland Magazine - 2018 Edition

destination for visitors interested in seeing The Herodian street along the
the site of David’s victory over Goliath. Western Wall. Photo: Omri Rubin
Archeological digs at Khirbet Qeiyafa A ritual bath (mikveh) on the
reveal an ancient fortified city from the early main street of Jerusalem that
days of the Israelite monarchy. Scientific was used by the pilgrims to the
assessments of the organic materials Holy Temple 2,000 years ago.
discovered in the casemate fortress date the Photo: Omri Rubin
wall to 980-1020 BC. These dates coincide
with the reign of King David and Solomon,
his successor. Among other important
discoveries, a Hebrew inscription was found
and dated to the late 11th century - early
10th century, BC. This makes the discovery
the most ancient inscription in the world
written using the Proto-Canaanite alphabet.
The content is not entirely clear, but several
biblical words have been identified. To
complete the experience, we recommend
visiting the In the Valley of David and Goliath
exhibit, which left Jerusalem at the end of
2017 and was selected as an opening
exhibit at the new Museum of the Bible in
Washington, DC.

Just a bit further south, you’ll find the
renovated Tel Lachish. Lachish was the
largest city in the region during the time of
the Kingdom of Judah, and visitors can now
enter the city just as people entered during
biblical times. Walk along the path leading
to the gatehouse and enter the city between
the guard towers. New explorations at the
site revealed ruins of the gate temple that
was destroyed by order of King Hezekiah.
The king was meticulous about restricting
ritual worship to Jerusalem, at the Holy
Temple, and destroyed all of the temples
and alters in other cities. The ancient city
was reconstructed and now tourists can visit
the site where the important Lachish letters
were discovered, telling the dramatic story
of the destruction of Jerusalem and Judah
by the Babylonians in 586 BC. This closes
the circle between the destruction of Lachish
and Israel’s modern-day independence.
We mark Israel’s 70th anniversary with
fascinating discoveries from this historical,
ancient land.

The author is a tour guide and strategic tourism
consultant.
www.yonishtern.co.il; yonishtern@gmail.com

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