Archeological Discoveries Confirm the David and Goliath Story

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August 14, 2022

4 min read

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Twenty-eight charred olive pits cracked the archaeology case.

Remember the story of David using his slingshot to kill the Philistine giant Goliath? Archaeologists believe that they found where that happened and Israel has now turned the site into a national park.

The 3,000-year-old site is known by its modern name, Khirbet Qeiyafa, near Beit Shemesh southwest of Jerusalem. It overlooks the Elah Valley.

Lead archaeologist Yosef Garfinkel says 28 charred olive pits unearthed from 2007 to 2013 helped crack the mystery of the site’s age. His team used carbon-14 dating to figure out how old the olive pits were.

A Fortified City from King David’s Time

“This fortified city is the only archaeological site from the time of King David,” asserts Prof. Garfinkel, the Yigal Yadin chair of archaeology at the Institute of Archaeology at Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Cultic room at Khirbet Qeiyafa.

The ancient olive pits proved that the site now known as Khirbet Qeiyafa existed in the early 10th century BCE.

Archaeologists discovered the city’s two gates—a western one, which faced the Biblical city of Philistine Gath, and a southern one, which faced Judah. They connected the site of Khirbet Qeiyafa with the Biblical city of Sha'arayim, Hebrew for “two gates,” mentioned in the story of David and Goliath. (1 Samuel 17:52)

In a building near the southern gate, archaeologists excavated a group worship room. They uncovered two building models, one made from clay and the other carved in limestone. The latter proved the royal architecture that the Bible attributed to the palace and temple in Jerusalem was known in this region too.

Garfinkel codirected the excavations with Saar Ganor, an archaeologist with the Israel Antiquities Authority and a student at Hebrew University.

Their team identified remnants of one building found as David’s palace and the other as a massive royal storeroom. A highly centralized administration apparently took nearly 100,000 tons of stones to construct.

Bible Text Proves Accurate

Garfinkel said Khirbet Qeiyafa clearly shows that the Biblical text preserves historical memories.

Before King David’s rule, residents dwelled in small farming, tribal communities. Those areas turned into urban centers around the 10th century BCE.

Khirbet Qeiyafa Ostracon.

“Our site indicates a social change in the time of David. We have evidence there was a process of urbanism, and that the Biblical tradition is accurate,” says Garfinkel. “We understand now how the period of David looked.”

Khirbet Qeiyafa displays the urban planning typical of other cities in the Judean kingdom, indicating a centralized state was in place in the days of King David.

Archaeologists turned up clues like pottery imported from Cyprus and objects imported from Jordan and Egypt that probably contained perfume or medicine. “This means the city was strong from an economic point of view,” according to Garfinkel.

Further evidence of an ancient civilization’s activity included thousands of sheep, goat, cow and fish bones. Casemate walls—double walls with transverse walls separating the space between them into chambers—reflected the urban planning typical of the times.

Archaeologists, students and volunteers devoted long hours to seven seasons of excavations. For six weeks each summer, they would awaken at 4 AM to drive to the site in the dark, then begin work at sunrise, with a 7 AM break for coffee and cake. They kept going until temperatures peaked at 1 PM.

Afternoons were reserved for lunch and naps. At 4 PM everyone would regroup to wash and discuss objects they had found, then enjoy dinner and a lecture.

Dig This: Museums Display King David-Era Artifacts

Major artifacts they unearthed are on display at the Israel Museum and Bible Lands Museum in Jerusalem, including shrine models, holy relics and evidence of perhaps the oldest Hebrew writing ever discovered.

Garfinkel notes that the Elah Valley was of strategic importance in King David’s time, as a corridor from the coastline up through the center of Judah and its stronghold cities of Hebron and Jerusalem.

His dig helped preserve history for generations to come. Garfinkel successfully lobbied for the 500-hectare (1,200-acre) site to become a national park instead of a new neighborhood.

“This is my greatest achievement in life,” he marvels. “I helped save the Elah Valley.”

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Jamie
Jamie
5 months ago

Glad to read the article, and I found it interesting but, my faith doesn’t require proof, and no one else’s should either.

Shane t Elenewski
Shane t Elenewski
5 months ago

The Timeline on the Bible seems flawed. Why is it everything in the past is under 4 feet of mud including some sites from the early 1850's? Am I wrong.

mgoldberg
mgoldberg
6 months ago

What is the connection between this site and the one I visited several times, in the early 2000's that was the place ascribed to be where David and Goliath met, which if I remember is called Tel Azekah.

Angus
Angus
6 months ago

Enjoyed reading the articles as always but the weapon David used was a sling, not a slingshot. They are very different.

Gershom
Gershom
6 months ago

Two things - researching evidence of Giants - shows that at one time - skeleton remains - reportedly were photographed and sent to the Smithsonian Institute?
Subsequently - many (atheist - religious and other?) groups disputed the evidence - and then MYSTERIOUSLY - all related EVIDENCE - DISAPPEARED - leaving nothing but - speculation - and myth.
So - CAUTION should be exercised - in connecting ZEALOUS CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE and touting it as - evidence - proof of (X) - should be avoided. The atheistic critics and naysayers - will have less reason to MOCK - them as religious zealots.

old scribe
old scribe
6 months ago

Yes, the article's title is misleading, but it seems those who comment seek a proof more than the information provided by the actual discovery. Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore, seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. 

One Jew's thoughts
One Jew's thoughts
6 months ago

When Naomi attempted to discourage Ruth and Orpa (in order to test their sincerity),
and Orpa indeed backed off, the rabbis of the Talmud say that she became a harlot that night, and Goliath descended from her. Whereas Rus clung to Naomi, and achieved greatness. It was her grandson, David, who eventually executed Goliath!

(The Talmud says that one of the purposes of the Nation of Israel being in exile is to bring converts. The rabbis explain that it is really a big mitzvah to accept them, we just must ascertain their sincerity (that it is not just for all the charity and cholent that available!:)

Wade
Wade
6 months ago

Incredible story and AGAIN proof that the Talmud/Bible is an accurate historical record. I studied Anthropology and Archeology in school for 2 years and LOVED every minute of it. I have hopes to someday participate as an American volunteer in an Israeli Archeology dig someday. CONGRATULATIONS everyone!

Bob Applebaum
Bob Applebaum
6 months ago
Reply to  Wade

It isn't.

Elizabeth
Elizabeth
6 months ago

I too was going to say the same thing - whilst the archeology is fascinating, it doesn't prove that a giant called Goliath was killed by a shepherd boy called David. To prove that would require finding evidence that a giant was killed there - bony remains with scars suggesting a head wound etc. The story may very well be true, but this piece doesn't prove it.

Janice
Janice
6 months ago

I was going to say the same thing, Obviously, there was no “giant,” so Goliath is a symbol perhaps of a much larger army that David defeated. But why was a mere shepherd allowed to lead an army? And why didn’t the Bible simply describe the actual event?

Avrohom Yitzchok
Avrohom Yitzchok
6 months ago
Reply to  Janice

Janice, what you call/name the bible is not Jewish, The Torah, the five Books of Moses, was closed for several hundreds of years and there could be only 'other' books but no new chapters in the Torah.

Mordechai Shuali
Mordechai Shuali
6 months ago

@ Avrohom Yitzchok - I believe "The Bible" as the Jews refer to it, includes all 24 Boks of "The Bible" / TaNa"CH. Five are the Chamishei Chumshei Torah while the others consist of the Nevi'im / Prophets and the Kisuvim / Writings. So I don't think Janice is so wrong. As to her question:

How ae archeological finds which can provide many pieces to the puzzle of history more indicative of history (through the hindsight and extrapolation the scientists must use, than the actual written record of the events?

Ken Wilson
Ken Wilson
6 months ago

Thank you so much for this fascinating article. However, the discovery of the city where the story of David and Goliath is set in no way proves that the story itself took place.

Barry Meislin
Barry Meislin
6 months ago
Reply to  Ken Wilson

Though perhaps the sheer improbability of the story does "prove" it?
(Yes, a head-scratcher, that one!)
As well, the subsequent account of the complex relationship between David and Saul, the deep friendship between David and Jonathan, which was not necessarily in the latter's interest, as Saul noted (though for Saul, "interest" meant keeping the kingship in the family---and eliminating rivals---rather than sustaining a loyal friendship with the family's main rival, David)...and then David's, and later Solomon's, relationship with Jonathan's offspring...
No less extraordinary is the account of Saul's madness, anxiety and jealousy of David and David's impetuous behavior---very human, if not always ethical (in fact, the opposite); and yet he was aware of his failings and was contrite....

Bob Weinberg
Bob Weinberg
6 months ago
Reply to  Barry Meislin

How totally irresponsible to write that the charred olive pits confirm the David & Goliath story. Why does Aish provide a platform for the author of this totally mindless account of the fight between David and Goliath? Why have other responders to this article been as polite as they have been in responding to this story in Aish? Hoping that other stories in Aish are better than this one. Bob Weinberg

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