Web of Biblical Cities Depicts King David as Major Ruler, Says Israeli Archaeologist

A network of fortified cities around Jerusalem has been dated to the time of King David, more than 200 years earlier than previously thought, offering support to the theory that King David ruled over a complex and large kingdom.

In a new academic paper, Prof. Yosef Garfinkel of the Institute of Archaeology at Hebrew University claims he has found evidence of urban settlement in organized cities dating to around 1,000 BCE, during the reign of King David.

His article, published Monday, June 26, in a peer-reviewed publication of Hebrew University, supports the theory that King David ruled over a well-developed kingdom, complete with roads connecting between cities.

Garfinkel explains, “If you take all these sites, they have the same urban concept, they are all sitting on the border of the kingdom and sitting where you have a main road leading to the kingdom. These cities aren’t located in the middle of nowhere. It’s a pattern of urbanism with the same urban concept.”

This runs counter to the belief of some scholars from the minimalist school of thought who have previously suggested that since there is scant evidence of cities during King David’s reign, his position as a ruler of a great kingdom as written in the Bible could be exaggerated. (TOI / VFI News)

“So David’s fame spread throughout every land, and the Lord made all the nations fear him.” - 1 Chronicles 14:17