Shaaraim

This article is about mention of this city in the Bible. For the archaeological dig, see Khirbet Qeiyafa.
Proposed site of She'arayim

Shaaraim (Hebrew: She'arayim, שעריים‎‎), meaning "Two Gates", is an Israelite city mentioned several times in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament. The site is believed to be on a hilltop overlooking the Elah Valley in the Judean hills.[1]

Biblical references

The city appears in the city list of Judah's tribal inheritance, after Socoh and Azekah (Jos 15, 36). After David killed Goliath, the Philistines ran away and were slain on the “road to She'arayim" (1 Sam 17:52). In the city list of the tribe of Simeon, She'arayim is mentioned as one of the cities "unto the reign of David" (1 Chr 4:31).

Archaeology

After excavating the site, Yossi Garfinkel of Hebrew University of Jerusalem and others believe that Khirbet Qeiyafa is She'arayim. Field work uncovered a wall that makes a nearly complete circuit with two gates. Garfinkel says it is the only contender for She'arayim as all other sites dated to the period have a single city gate. Carbon dating and the absence of pig bones strengthen the argument that Qeiyafa is She'aryaim and not a Canaanite fortress. [2]

Israel Finkelstein disagrees. He claims that Megiddo and several other ancient towns in that region had two gates.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 Julia Fridman, 'Crying King David: Are the ruins found in Israel really his palace? ,' at Haaretz, 26 August, 2013.
  2. ↑ Oldest Hebrew inscription' Discovered in Israelite Fort on Philistine border, Biblical Archaeology Review, March/April 2010, p. 52.
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