Dig backs biblical account of Gat

[Madame Butterfly 0]

Dig backs biblical account of Philistine city of Gat

 

By Amiram Barkat

 

New evidence regarding the bitter end of Gat, the largest and most important Philistine city, was recently unearthed at a dig at Tel Zafit near the Masmia intersection in the Lachish region. According to Kings II (12:18), Gat was conquered by King Hazael of Aram. He intended to capture Jerusalem as well, but King Jehoash of Judah saved the capital while losing treasure taken from the Temple (Kings II 14:14). Findings at the dig support the biblical version of Gat's demise as described in Kings II.

 

An enormous trench surrounded by towers was found at the dig, which was apparently built during the siege of the city. The archaeologists say that findings at the site reveal the unique method employed by the Arameans to seize the city and the destruction that Aramean soldiers left in their wake. Other artifacts shed light on the culture of the Philistines, one of the most fascinating peoples that lived in ancient Israel.

 

The Philistines controlled the southern coastal plain for close to 600 years. Their best-known contribution was to the Roman name for the Land of Israel, "Palestina," which is derived from the Greek name "Paleshet," the land of the Philistines. (There is no connection between the Philistines and modern Palestinians.)

 

 

 

 

Battles between the Philistines and their Jewish neighbors are mentioned in biblical stories of David and Goliath, King Saul and Samson. Modern Hebrew words such as kova (hat) and argaz (crate) are apparently derived from the Philistine language.

 

The Philistine people are particularly interesting to researchers because they were Indo-Europeans, while the people of Israel and others in the area were Semites. The language, culture and origins of the Philistines were thus different from that of their neighbors. Unlike Semitic peoples, the Philistines did not practice circumcision and were therefore referred to as "foreskins" in ancient sources. Their lesser-known customs included eating puppies and pigs.

 

Gat, the city of Goliath, was the most important of five local cities built by the Philistines, including Ekron, Ashkelon, Ashdod and Gaza. Gat apparently was a significant city, whose leader was called a king. Leaders of other Philistine cities were called rulers. At its peak, Gat had a population of 10,000 residents, like the population of Jerusalem on the eve of the destruction of the First Temple.

 

The most impressive finding uncovered in the dig at Gat is a 2.5-kilometer moat carved in stone that surrounded the walls of the city at a radius of 300 meters. Professor Aaron Meir, who directed the dig on behalf of Bar-Ilan University, estimates that it took thousands of workers many months to dig the stone moat, which is five meters deep and four meters wide. The moat, flanked along its entire length by guard towers, was erected to prevent besieged residents from breaking out to get food or mount a surprise attack on their captors.

 

An estimated 60,000 cubic meters of rock were chiseled to create the moat. According to Meir, this is the most ancient blockade discovered in this part of the world. He says that the structure exactly fits a description in an Aramean text from this period discovered in the city of Zahor in Syria.

 

The ruins of houses that fell in their entirety were found inside the city of Gat, which covered about 500 dunams. A large variety of vessels and a vast array of artifacts used in writing and rituals were found, revealing various aspects of Philistine culture.

 

One of the most important discoveries is a text in clay that includes Philistine names. While the text is written in local Phoenician, the names appear to be Greek in origin. According to Meir, this is rare proof of assimilation in Philistine society. "On one hand, they preserved their religion, language, and other central, distinguishing characteristics but, on the other, they adopted local customs and styles to a significant extent," says Meir.

 

The end of the Philistines came about 200 years after the destruction of Gat. Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzer conquered their land and dispersed their nation throughout Babylon. Their neighbors, the Judahites, were also dispersed. But unlike the Jews, evidence of the Philistines vanished in Babylon

[Kor37 9]

Yet another thing from the Bible being proven as real. The athiests around here must be fuming.....lol.

[HRH The KING 0]

Yet another thing from the Bible being proven as real. The athiests around here must be fuming.....lol.

 

Destruction of cities and battles are hardly going to make Atheists angry.

 

Since those can be proven by hard evidence, artifacts and so forth, much like a shipwreck.

 

It's the fictional supernatural elements of Biblical myth that are the crux of the matter.

 

For example, if you said "Titanic was found at the bottom of the sea, therefore it must have sank" no one would argue.

 

If you said "Titanic was found at the bottom of the sea, therefore God used his divine powers to sink it" then that would be different.

Edited August 15, 2005 by HRH The KING

[Tina 0]

All religious arguments were to take place in Kronos- get over the closing

[HRH The KING 0]

If you are going to act like a wannabe mod (scary thought) on the Science and Technology forum, then they may as well close this forum too.

 

All threads of significant value and interest on this site will spark debate.

 

I could create a Trek thread called "What do you prefer? Roddenberry's Utopianism or a darker vision of Trek?" and it would end up in debate despite being a Star Trek related thread.

 

If you react to ANYTHING vaguely arguable on this site, then all you'll end up with are fluff posts and word games.

 

:o

[Madame Butterfly 0]

I have to agree with King on that one.

 

Though I think religious topics here often get way too heated over petty things, this is science.

 

And while it's provable by science, it doesn't necessary prove God.

 

What it does prove is that especially in the old testiment, the science of archaelogy is proving some of the stories in it.

[Tina 0]

I was just reading the article that MB posted and wondering if it was Science.When i read Kors ridiculous statement.

 

King- I have nothing to say to you. Besides whatever i say will just spark an argument

 

MB- Lovely article- Thanks for the read.I really do love when theology and archaeology meet

[Kor37 9]

I was just reading the article that MB posted and wondering if it was Science.When i read Kors ridiculous statement

 

 

Just in case it went over your head,Tina,...and for future reference.......when I put a "lol" at the end of a statement.......IT MEANS I'M KIDDING!

 

I've disagreed and agreed with many people on this site. But I've never intentionally demeaned anybody by saying that anything they said was ridiculous or resorted to calling anyone names. THATS the kinda stuff that probably got Kronos shut down.

[Bethlehem 7]

MB great article, your article posts are interesting and the posts afterwards are fun thank you

[Tina 0]

So if i say somthing totally negative towards a person: and then put a smilie that it makes it ok somehow? No it doesn't- And that sarcastic behavior is one of the reasons that kronos is closed

 

Thats all i wil say about that

 

ok yeah and LOL (That was Sarcasm)

Edited August 16, 2005 by Ambassador tinadoll

[Kor37 9]

So if i say somthing totally negative towards a person: and then put a smilie that it makes it ok somehow? No it doesn't- And that sarcastic behavior is one of the reasons that kronos is closed

 

I suppose this means you will be taking me off your "good-looking men" list........sigh...............

[Tina 0]

Just because you annoy me somtimes deon't mean that i'll take you off- just shut your mputh and sit there like a good boy and let us women gawlk at you

 

Edited August 16, 2005 by Ambassador tinadoll

[Bethlehem 7]

HEY I could be put on a good looking man list. That is if you like middle aged fat balding men

[Tina 0]

Only Kor

 

and VBG and Alter are on the list Classics

[Angela 1]

meow

[Madame Butterfly 0]

MB great article, your article posts are interesting and the posts afterwards are fun thank you

347465[/snapback]

 

 

thank you Boozehound, much appreciated.

[Tina 0]

woof woof

[Madame Butterfly 0]

mooooooooooooooooooooo

[Tina 0]

*howls at the moon*

 

Sorry Calling Remus

[Madame Butterfly 0]

Just as long as there aren't any men here acting like sheep, I'm ok with it.

 

 

-hides Remalicious behind her back-

[Tina 0]

Oh hells no *her hair turns red as well as her face*

 

GIMMIE

[Madame Butterfly 0]

 

Eh?

 

Did you say something?

 

-squishes Remus down and sits on him like he's a rock :o

[Tina 0]

 

Don't piss him off

 

[Madame Butterfly 0]

 

Are you frickin' Sirius??? :o :)

[Tina 0]

HE IS

 

*gives him a look*

 

And i thought our love was special

 

[Madame Butterfly 0]

Yeah well, a dog and a werewolf.

 

They seem to go together, don't they? :o

[Tina 0]

Slash is soooo wrong on many levels- At least our love is written by God

[Madame Butterfly 0]

Yeah but alot of people seem to be addicted to it.

 

Your Love?

 

You mean MY love?

 

Tina?!!!!

 

Are you asking me out??!!!!!

 

Than which one of us will go on your best looking guy list?