King Davids Palace

[zaksmummy]

I was watching a programme on TV this morning about King David's Palace, I didnt know it had been excavated and it will definitely be on my list of places to visit if I ever visit Jerusalem.

Catrin xx

[stone]

What channel was it on?

or network

[TheRabbi]

It's still not open to the public. The City of David is exploding with activity these days. We have also found Solomon's palace at the southeastern corner of the Temple Mount, the real Shiloach pool (Not the one in all the "Bible Places" books), the pilgrims road (it looks nicer than most of the streets in use today). The spot where Solomon was anointed king and the place where Yoav entered the city to capture it from the Jebusites. It's an amazing place and I've been fortunate enought to take courses there with the top archaeologists in the world.

[BereanTodd]

It's still not open to the public. The City of David is exploding with activity these days.

I've been over there each of the last two years, and both times I was able to see it. I will post some pictures of it a little later if I can.

[zaksmummy]

That is fantastic cant wait to see them. I love archaeology, so would be great and I'm jealous therabbi, I'm sure you had a great time!

Catrin xx

[Lulav]

I saw this myself on a program not that long ago, it might have been on the history channel.

Here's an article by aish.com you might want to read

http://www.aish.com/jewishissues/jerusalem/Reclaiming_Biblical_Jerusalem.asp

[BereanTodd]

I thought I had some better pictures, but apparently I do not, I'm sorry. I do have some videos also somewhere if I can track them down. In any case, we could not actually go into these particular ruins, but we could go right up to them, this is what is supposed to have been David's Palace.

It was not the most impressive spot in Israel by any stretch of the imagination, but obviously it was very important, and thus special in that way.

[TheRabbi]

Your photos are of Area G, not David's palace. This particular part of area G is called "The House of Achiel". What we see in this house is the home of a wealthy indivividual from the end of the first temple period. This house was destroyed in 586 BC by the Babylonians. It had an indoor toilet and an analysis of the excrament in them shows that the inhabitants were being starved during the siege and were actually eating grass. David's palace is on the level above this. When you enter the City of David, you will now find yourself walking on a massive metal grate. Underneath your feet, uunderneath this metal grate is the dig that has uncovered David's palace. The blue tarp in your photo is covering part of what is called "The stepped stone structure" and phase two of Dr. Eilat Mazar's dig has determined that it is connected to David's palace located on the level above.

Here are some images of the tarp. We have here a few from the top looking down into phase two of the dig and one from the front. In my next post I'll show David's Palace up above.

[BereanTodd]

Hmm ... well I apologize for my mistake, unless I am mistaken (and my memory is pretty strong), our guide had indicated we were looking at King David's palace. I stand corrected I guess.

[TheRabbi]

In these photo's you can see the metal grate that every tourist walks on, most not realizing that David's palace is actually under their feet. I have also included some photos from within the palce dig itself.

[TheRabbi]

Keep in mind that in these photos, you are only seeing the foundations of the palace. From these foundations, we can approximate the size and beauty of the buildings that lay on them.

I can show you other new discoveries if you'd like. I've got tons of pics. I'm very involved in Ir David, The Temple Mount and the Southern wall excavations.

[TheRabbi]

Hmm ... well I apologize for my mistake, unless I am mistaken (and my memory is pretty strong), our guide had indicated we were looking at King David's palace. I stand corrected I guess.


Maybe he was pointing to the tarp up top which is the outer edge of the palace dig.

[zaksmummy]

Yes please I'd love to see some more pictures. I think its very exciting to find archaeological evidence of things in the bible.

When i next read "David and Goliath" to Zak I can tell him about the palace

Catrin xx

[Henaynei]

I agree, Rabbi, please share...