Archeologists Believe the Fortress Found Outside of Jerusalem Is Evidence of King David’s Kingdom

And many believe that one site in particular, named Khirbet Qeiyafa, or the Elah Fortress, has proved the theory of the United Monarchy of the 10th century BCE.

Thanks to years of intense archeological research, they now know that this city was built during the first half of the 10th century BCE during the time of David and Solomon.

Since being excavated, the site has sparked an intense debate among Biblical historians and archeologists. Some believe that it proves the United Monarchy theory, while others disagree wholeheartedly.

Essentially, this idea claims that the Kingdom of Israel, from 1047 to 930 BCE, included the Kingdom of Judah as well as the Samarian Kingdom of Israel. And that the entire kingdom was ruled by three kings in sequential order: Saul in the late 11th century, David throughout the later 10th century, and finally, Solomon in the mid-10th century.

And those who believe in this theory argue that famous Biblical men such as Solomon and David were actually more like local chieftains instead of kings, and that their time in power overlapped.

He and other academics believe that the Elah Fortress is one of the many fortified locations around Jerusalem that organized and protected the giant nation, as they were all linked by man-made roads and had almost identical designs.

Over the years, five different but similar sites have been found and excavated, and Garfinkel believes that, thanks to their findings at the Elah Fortress, they now have concrete evidence that they are all related in their location, construction, and timeframe.

And continued, “These cities aren’t located in the middle of nowhere. It’s a pattern of urbanism with the same urban concept.”

Finkelstein and his colleagues argue that the five sites surrounding the city of Jerusalem do not prove one giant kingdom as they cannot all be dated to the 10th century BCE. And if they were built during different time periods, it would confirm that there were several smaller collectives.

And as according to the Bible, David and Solomon were certainly alive at the same time and even interacted, this theory is widely believed by many who use the Bible as a historical document.

Some people, known as maximalists, base a great deal of importance on the exact words of the text. While others, known as minimalists, disagree that the Bible is, in fact, a historical document and, therefore, negate its use as evidence.

And until there is, this United Monarchy debate won’t be solved. Historians, academics, and archeologists alike will have to continue to speculate until they know for sure.