A group of archaeologists have recently discovered a “monumental” structure which is mentioned multiple times in the Bible.
This awe-inspiring and interesting discovery is over 3,000 years old. This structure may give researchers and theologians never-before-known insights into the ancient world and the stories of the Bible.
Discovering the Structure
A team of archaeologists have discovered an incredible Biblical structure. It was found in Israel and, after verifying with research, is most likely about 3,800 years old.
At the City of David in the Jerusalem Walls National Park, a group of researchers from the Israel Antiquities Authority and Tel Aviv University found a mysterious moat at least nine meters deep and 30 meters wide.
The Secrets of the Moat
There have been many attempts to find and study this Biblically-mentioned moat for the past 150 years, but this is the first time it has been accomplished.
Now, the secrets of the moat and the ancient City of David can be revealed. Researchers believe that the moat used to separate and protect the upper city from the lower city. The upper city housed the palace and temple, while the lower city was the older area of the city and the commoner’s land.
A Dramatic Discovery
The discovery of the moat and structures around it allows researchers and theologians to learn more about the ancient world of the Bible.
The Israel Antiquities Authority researchers said, “This is a dramatic discovery that opens up a renewed discussion about the terms from the biblical literature that refers to the topography of Jerusalem, such as the Ophel and the Millo.”
Bible References
The Ophel and the Millo are both terms describing parts of the City of David. This moat in the City of David is referenced in the Bible multiple times, too.
For example, a reference to the Millo can be found in the Book of Kings (11:27). In this chapter, it describes how King Solomon constructed the Millo and “closed up the breach in the wall of the City of David his father.”
When is the Moat Structure From?
A large part of the research about the City of David’s moat was trying to determine when the moat was built.
Dr. Yiftah Shalev, the excavation’s director, said, “It is not known when the moat was originally cut, but evidence suggests it was used during the centuries when Jerusalem was the capital of the Kingdom of Judah, almost 3,000 years ago, beginning with King Josiah.”
More About the Moat
“We are confident that [the moat] was used at the time of the First Temple and the Kingdom of Judah [in the ninth century BC], so it created a clear buffer between the residential city in the south and the upper city in the north,” Dr. Shalev continued.
Researchers have used their established knowledge to better pinpoint the time period when the moat was created and in use. Dr. Shalev explained, “During those years, the moat separated the southern residential part of the city from the ruling Acropolis in the north; the upper city where the palace and the temple were located.”
The Middle Bronze Age
The exact date of the construction is still not known. It very well may never be. However, based on the construction of the moat, it was most likely built during the Middle Bronze Age.
The Israel Antiquities Authority confirmed that construction plans similar to that of the moat typically date back to roughly 3,800 years ago, during the Middle Bronze Age.
Wondrous and Awe-Inspiring
Eli Escusido, director of the Israel Antiquities Authority, said that the discovery is truly amazing. Getting to see it in person was an awesome experience for him.
“When you stand at the bottom of this giant excavation, surrounded by enormous hewn walls, it is impossible not to be filled with wonder and appreciation for those ancient people who, about 3,800 years ago, literally moved mountains and hills,” Escusido said.
Shedding Light on the Biblical World
Escusido went on to say, “Once again, discoveries are being revealed that shed new and vivid light on the biblical literature.”
The discovery by the archaeologists of the moat structure in the ancient CIty of David is an interesting and breathtaking insight into the stories of the Bible.
