Historians from the University of Haifa claim that Khirbet Qeiyafa, a provincial town in Israel's Elah Valley region, is 'Neta'im', an adminstrative center mentioned in the biblical book of Chronicles.
Archaeological excavations carried out at Khirbet Qeiyafa have dated the site to the beginning of the 10th century BCE, namely the time of King David's rule. A Hebrew inscription on a pottery shard found at the site also dating back to the 10th century indicates the presence of scribes and a high level of culture in the town.
The genealogy of the Tribe of Judah dated to the same period is recorded in 1 Chronicles. The last verse of this genealogy, 1 Chronicles 4:23, mentions two important cites: Gederah and Neta'im, both of which were administrative centers, since they were inhabited by people who work "in the king's service": "These were the potters, the inhabitants of Neta'im and Gederah, they dwelt there in the King's service." Gederah has been identified near the Elah Valley, but Neta'im, which is mentioned only once in the Bible, remained unidentified.
Khirbet Qeiyafa (Elah fortress), Western gate
Photo: Wikipedia
American archaeologist William Albright proposed associating Neta'im with Khirbet En-Nuweiti', which is also located near the Elah Valley, based on the phonological similarity between the two names. Archaeological surveys at Khirbet En-Nuweiti', however, revealed that it was only inhabited during Hellenistic and Roman-Byzantine times, and not during the Iron Age.
The identification of Khirbet Qeiyafa with Neta'im is based on the proximity of Khirbet Qeiyafa to biblical Gederah/Khirbet Ğudraya; on the archaeological findings – including impressive fortifications - dating from the time of King David's rule and indicating that this was an administrative center; and on the preserved name of nearby Khirbet En-Nuweiti'.
"The archeological findings at this site, the discovery of the earliest and most important Hebrew inscription to be found to date, and the understanding, based on the biblical text, that members of the Tribe of Judah inhabited the town and worked in the king's service, testify to Khirbet Qeiyafa – Neta'im – being an important administrative center in the border region of the Kingdom of Israel during the time of King David's reign," says Prof. Gershon Galil of the Department of Bible Studies at the University of Haifa.
Archaeological excavations carried out at Khirbet Qeiyafa have dated the site to the beginning of the 10th century BCE, namely the time of King David's rule. A Hebrew inscription on a pottery shard found at the site also dating back to the 10th century indicates the presence of scribes and a high level of culture in the town.
The genealogy of the Tribe of Judah dated to the same period is recorded in 1 Chronicles. The last verse of this genealogy, 1 Chronicles 4:23, mentions two important cites: Gederah and Neta'im, both of which were administrative centers, since they were inhabited by people who work "in the king's service": "These were the potters, the inhabitants of Neta'im and Gederah, they dwelt there in the King's service." Gederah has been identified near the Elah Valley, but Neta'im, which is mentioned only once in the Bible, remained unidentified.
Khirbet Qeiyafa (Elah fortress), Western gate
Photo: Wikipedia
American archaeologist William Albright proposed associating Neta'im with Khirbet En-Nuweiti', which is also located near the Elah Valley, based on the phonological similarity between the two names. Archaeological surveys at Khirbet En-Nuweiti', however, revealed that it was only inhabited during Hellenistic and Roman-Byzantine times, and not during the Iron Age.
The identification of Khirbet Qeiyafa with Neta'im is based on the proximity of Khirbet Qeiyafa to biblical Gederah/Khirbet Ğudraya; on the archaeological findings – including impressive fortifications - dating from the time of King David's rule and indicating that this was an administrative center; and on the preserved name of nearby Khirbet En-Nuweiti'.
"The archeological findings at this site, the discovery of the earliest and most important Hebrew inscription to be found to date, and the understanding, based on the biblical text, that members of the Tribe of Judah inhabited the town and worked in the king's service, testify to Khirbet Qeiyafa – Neta'im – being an important administrative center in the border region of the Kingdom of Israel during the time of King David's reign," says Prof. Gershon Galil of the Department of Bible Studies at the University of Haifa.
Please correct your article regarding the credentials and import of Prof Galil's position.
As Prof. Aren Maeir of Bar Ilan University says, this is not just another excavation. The findings in Elah Fortress point to becoming an anchor of our scientific and academic understanding of ancient Israel and its interaction with regional cultures, and the underpinnings of the biblical textual record. It is important to present all the finding and the scientific thinking for consideration, and the range of opinions on the various issues. This is a seminal find.
Senior site archaeologist Prof Yosef Garfinkel, who also holds a degree in historical geography, says this site is the Biblical Sha'arayim mentioned in Joshua 15:36 and Samuel I 17:52, and in Chronicles I 4:31. It has the unique feature of two massive city gates, which is a potential explanation of the name Sha'arayim- Two Gates, and fits in the context of the other Biblical stories.
Carbon-14 dating of burnt olive pits found in context and typology of the pottery found in context also indicate the city stood in the early 10th century, perhaps even 11th century BCE, before the time bible scholars place David as being king.
The powerful fortifications, which Prof Garfinkel estimates as having 200,000 metric tons just in the other perimeter, with stone of up to 10 tons employed, indicate a polity was extant at this time. This affects the basis of delineating Iron Age I from Iron Age Ii, and perhaps the basic premise of that dating structure.
The fact of Hebrew writing extant at this time has implications for revising the academic understanding of the literacy and the historical accuracy of events reaching us from this period. Jewish tradition clearly records that people were literate and fulfilling various commandments requiring written script. This is the first laboratory scientific evidence of this to be admissible in an academic scientific context.
Sincerely,
Barnea Levi Selavan
CoDirector, Foundation Stone
www.foundationstone.org
www.elahfortress.com