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Show BIBLICAL EXCAVATIO.'IS in the HOLY LAUD - X- f r 2 warrior to do battle against him. His challenge was that 11 he were overpowered by the Israelite warrior then all of the Philistines would become servants to the Israelites. On the other hand, il he were vio. torious, the Israelites would become their slaves. The giant who threw this challenge was Goliath from Gath: He was in height, 6 cu- -' bits and a span '(an estimated 9 feet six inchest with a fully Land tell A Hoi the trench showing which 1$ cut at the com- - , mencement of excava- - tion. - V ! pened to it? For more archaeologists fiiart In 25" years," the- - Holy have-southe site of ancient Gath. An Intensive search was conducted during Land ght ant: Dr. B. Mazar, who, from lit spot erary research and Investigations, have come to usion that a jnound known as Tel en Najila is, without reasonable doubt, the site of this famous old city. On the-spexcavations, have ah'eady uncovered an Impressive fortress which dates from the 8th Century B.C. Excavations ' in earnest will begin later- - this and will be conducted a period of at least five years. During the first year, it is that the excavation of planned - the old fortress will he com pleted and then a trial trench will bC 'dug to discover the extent of the history of the site After that, plans for the remaining four years.. will be on-th- e well-place- d - throughout the reigns of Saul, David and Solomon. Later, Rehoboam fortified it and, still later, Amos tells of some great calamity that befell It (Amos Where was this Important armoured proportionatephyi siqoe Almost by chance, David was ' visiting the Israelite ar- - mies under command of King Saul.-Davihad come to -- provisions to his. three brothers who were at the battlefield and 'when he heard Goliaths challenge, he offered to fight him. The story of what happened as a result of a sling shot, is well known.--Whhas not been known is I , at , presented. Archaeological technique, once the the history of Israel took place. The City of Gath is mentioned many times in the Oli Testament It was one -- r -' .Sw- oL-tn- e five (Pentapolis) Philistine cities the others bpihg Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdqdand Ekron. Gath is calledtfie Royal Philistine City consequently, must haVe been the abode of y the Philistine kings. It was the home of one of these kings during- the period when David was fleeing from the anger of Saul, for he and his men took refuge ip- the city and lived there under the protection of one of the Philistine kings for a penod of 16 months. ' In addition to having been the home of Goliath and oneof cer-Inl- theplaces oLrefugeTorJJavi - jt Bduors Note: Dr. end recently returned from u nsit to tbt Holy Loud ubere they stud ted urcbueotdgicel excursion tonnected wttb the Bible. Tbit it the third tn tenet of short illustrsted unifies ubscb these excursions et inch u eeexporlsnt Btblicul net es Megtddo, Gutb, Tiberius, Cupemuum Asbkelon end Su-Cue-sure- CHRISTINE and O. PRESTON ROBINSON By- - WAS during the reign of Dtivld that Israel began to reach the heights of Its power and glory. Jt was in t heValley-ef-Eia- h, only B few , miles from the City of Gath, where David first demonstrated the power which was IT to lead Israel' to her great sucv cesses. .Everyone acquainted Wfth the Bible is familiar with the story of the farnoysDattle be-tween David and Goliath. Adetails of the conlthough tbe flict are well known,' only a few Biblescholars, however,, be-- e they know where this unique battle took place. It was approximately In the year 1065 B.C. that an oven confident, haughty giant stepped out in front of the Philistine army and for 40 days 'taunted the armies of Israel, arrayed on the other side of the yalley, to send forth . 6 CHURCf Week Ending May 5, 1962 iVV V down from where d when David fought Goliath, The Valley of Elah, looking is believed Israel's armies iv vS were-arraye- Gath was sufficiently important to have been oneM the Cities into which theArk of the Covenant' was brought. 'The city played apimportant role exploratory trench has been completed and the detailed ..plans outlined, is that eaglryear actual field excava-- . are conducted for approxImatelyjtwo and a half months and the remainder of the time used to classify the findings deglpher the possible inscnp tlons and publish, in progressive reports, the results. This is the technique which Is - planned at Gath. The excavations at the Gath Ten wUl be under the sumt Vision of Negev Inc. The project has already been apfiroved receive a grant fpdm the Upit ed States jrfe Department and by the State of Israel. Princeton' Theological with the educational aspects of the project in Financial participation Biblical excavations in Israel Is being encouraged on the part of educational institutions and governments outside of Israel through a plan of generous Continued on Page 11 Biblicaj,-Ex-cavation- s, t St |
