Prof. Yoseph Garfinkel, head of the Institute of Archaeology at Hebrew University of Jerusalem, has announced the discovery of a fortification wall at Lachish dating to the 10th century BC. The excavators claim to have found evidence that layer 5 of Lachish was indeed a fortified city, after having lain waste for over two centuries. The wall was carbon-dated using olive pits found beneath a floor that stretched to the wall, which indicated it had been built ca. 920 BC. This is precisely the time that Solomon's son Rehoboam ruled, and affirms the biblical record which states: "Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem, and he built cities for defense in Judah. He built Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa, Beth-zur, Soco, Adullam, Gath, Mareshah, Ziph, Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah, Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron, fortified cities that are in Judah and in Benjamin" (2 Chron. 11:5-10). This discovery is further archaeological evidence of the establishment of the Kingdom of Judah as the Bible describes.
Off-site Links:
- https://www.timesofisrael.com/archaeologist-thick-wall-found-at-lachish-indicates-king-solomons-son-built-it/
- https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium-did-the-kingdom-of-david-exist-new-wall-found-in-southern-israel-reignites-debate-1.7157816
