You Gotta See This: Archaeologists Uncover Biblical City Gate

The gate of Gath was found by researchers at Bar-Ilan University conducting excavations in the Tel Zafit national park, in the Judean foothills between Jerusalem and Ashkelon.

The city was occupied until about the ninth century BC, when it is said it was destroyed by Hazael, king of Damascus.

Gath was ruled by the Philistines, regarded as enemies of the Israelites. It was also the home of Goliath, the giant Philistine warrior who the Israelite David defeated with a slingshot.

Professor Maeir, lead archaeologist for the excavation, told theIndependent: “We have known for quite a few years that the city of Philistine Gath was one of, if not the largest, cities in the region during the Iron Age.

“With the new finds of the monumental fortifications and apparent city gate, we can now state quite clearly that this kingdom was in fact a powerful one.

“The gate of Gath is mentioned in the biblical story of David’s escape from King Saul to King Achish of Gath.

“It may very well be that this is the gate that the biblical author had in mind when this story was written.”

Read the entire article here.