In the Footsteps of King David: Revelations from an Ancient Biblical City

by Yosef Garfinkel, Saar Ganor, Michael G. Hasel

King David is a pivotal figure in the Bible, which tells his life story in detail and gives stirring accounts of his deeds, including the slaying of the Philistine giant Goliath and the founding of his capital in Jerusalem. But no certain archaeological finds from the period of his reign or of the kingdom he ruled over have ever been uncovered—until now.

In this groundbreaking account, the excavators of Khirbet Qeiyafa in the Valley of Elah, where the Bible says David fought Goliath, reveal how seven years of exhaustive investigation have uncovered a city dating to the time of David— the late eleventh and early tenth century BCE—surrounded by massive fortifications with impressive gates and a clear urban plan, as well as an abundance of finds that tell us much about the inhabitants. Discussing the link between the Bible, archaeology, and history In the Footsteps of King David explains the significance of these discoveries and how they shed new light on David’s kingdom. The topic is at the center of a controversy that has raged for decades, but these findings successfully challenge scholars disputing the historicity of the Bible and the chronology of the events recounted in it.

Genres: History, Religion, Archaeology, Nonfiction

240 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2012

About the author

Yosef Garfinkel is Yigael Yadin Professor for the Archaeology of the Land of Israel, Biblical Archaeology Department of the Institute of Archaeology, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and head of the Berman Center for Biblical Archaeology.

Reviews

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating book to learn about the impact of one very important find on biblical archaeology. Until the mid 20th century scholars considered the Bible a reliable historical source on the rise of the Kingdoms of Israel and Judah. In the late 20th century, because of a lack of archeological finds from the 10th and 9th centuries BCE (the time frame of the Biblical kings David and Solomon) archaeologists began to propose that the Biblical narrative was not historical. The new theory was that Judah had no urban centers until centuries later. Khirbet Qaiyafa changed all this. Carbon dating placed the founding of this fortified urban center in the 10th century. Many aspects of construction and physical culture show it as a forbear of other Judean cities found later, including writing in the Hebrew language. These also line up with Biblical descriptions of 10th century Hebrew culture. Even the location of the city only makes sense as a defensive city opposite the Philistine city of Gath in the historical context described by the Bible. When Gath declined a century later this city was abandoned as well. The characteristics of the city even allow scholars to associate it with the biblical city of Sha'arim. This archeological find corroborates the biblical accounts and sheds more light on the culture surrounding the most famous stories from 3,000 years ago.

[Timothy Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Overview

In the Footsteps of King David is an excellent overview of the excavations at Khirbet Qeiyafa in the Elah Valley. The site is critical to understanding 11th - 10th century BCE development of the Kingdom of Judah. The book is accessible to lay readers as well as professionals. The authors are professional archaeologists who follow the evidence and conclude the site supports in general the Biblical description of the beginning of the monarchy in Judah in the 11th -q10th century BCE.

[Kenneth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a discussion of the seasons of excavations at the site known today as Khirbet Qeifaya, which the authors identify as the biblical Shaaraim. It overlooks the Valley of Elah and is opposite the Philistine city of Gath (modern Tell es-Safi). The Valley of Elah is the location of where the Bible tells us that David confronted Goliath and killed him. The authors go into much detail of how the excavations proceeded and what they found. They discovered some carbonized olive pits, and they were radiocarbon dated to the late 11th/early 10th century BCE, which is consistent with the high chronology of biblical dating (which matches the biblical narrative) and is a blow to the "minimalist" position of some scholars which rejects the historicity of early Israelite and Judahite narratives in the Old Testament (claiming that they were composed centuries later and contain mostly myths and legends). As someone once said, "absence of evidence is not evidence of absence".

Inscriptions were found which are the earliest discovered examples of early Hebrew writing. The site was also an administrative center for the emerging Davidic kingdom. Cult rooms and other things were discovered. Animal bones were found - of sheep, goats, cattle, but no pig bones - indicating adherence to the Old Testament prohibition on eating pork, (still done by observant Jews to this day) and indicating the ethnicity of who it was that built the site.

The site was destroyed - the authors best guess was by Philistines from Gath - in the mid/late 10th century BCE. It seems to have happened suddenly - the floors were littered with broken pottery etc. The site was not rebuilt but in the Late Persian/Early Hellenistic period (late 4th century BCE) a settlement was built on top of the ruins of the Davidic era. Dating was confirmed by the discovery of Persian era coins and a silver coin with the image of Alexander the Great on it.

The process of excavation is thoroughly described, of the walls and casemates, the sifting of excavated dirt to discover small objects that could easily be overlooked otherwise - coins, beads, Egyptian scarabs, etc.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys the adventure of archaeological discovery, biblical studies, and ancient history.

[Rachel Schoenberger · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such an interesting book all about the excavations at Khirbet Qeiyafa. The site functioned as an important administrative centre during Iron Age IIA which was the time of the biblical King David. Two inscriptions have been found there and are evidence of early alphabetic writing in Israel. I definitely learned lots reading this and think it is an important book for anyone interested in Israeli archaeology to read.

[Gary Detrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good book. Sure puts a crimp in the minimalist approach. A major archeological recent find of amzaing evidence by sicentific research through independent and theological top organizations. Enjoyed comparing it with the biblical dates.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting and readable archaeological report. I am glad I read it especially for the evidence this dig has provided for the historicity of the Old Testament accounts of the early years of Israel's existence as a nation and of the reign of King David.

[Chris Aldrich · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fabulous, entertaining, and truly fun read.

[Rosemary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Accessible account of the excavations at Khirbet Qeiyafa, proposed as the biblical fortified town of Shaaraim.

[Eunice · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not very engaging.