The Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) announced this week that archeologists working at the Khirbet Qeiyafa dig in the Elah Valley, where David fought Goliath as recorded in the Book of I Samuel, have uncovered a ceramic jar with an inscription including the name “Eshba’al Ben Shaul” in ancient Canaanite script. The 3,000 year old jar was broken into several shards when it was discovered in 2012 by a team led by Prof. Yosef Garfinkel of the Institute of Archaeology of the Hebrew University and Saar Ganor of the Israel Antiquities Authority. After intensive work to restore the artifact, including gluing together hundreds of small shards, the inscription became apparent. Professors Garfinkel and Ganor explained that “Eshba’al was murdered by assassins and decapitated and his head was brought to David in Hebron (II Samuel, Chaps. 3-4).” Read More
