Monday 16 September 2013 Tel Beersheva

We visited Tel Beersheba in the Negev, an archeological site dating to King Solomon.

 It was probably the southern end of Israel during the time of the Judges. It is the Southern End of the Patriarchs Way, a road to Jerusalem.  From here Abraham left to sacrifice his son in what has become Jerusalem. Tel Beersheva was a major trade route and a military post.

Linda is standing in front a four horned altar. It was made of hewn stones which was contrary to the law of Moses that said altars must be made of unhewn stones. Hezekiah probably had it removed as part of his reformation.

 Birds eye view of Tel Beersheva.  It was a small city, probably holding about 300 people.

This view, looking south, shows the gate to the city.  The entrance was built so an invader would have to break through two gates - after the first entrance he would have to turn left, then right, where he would encounter another city gate.  This arrangement would slow down an enemy and allow the defenders more time to attack from above.

This is a well just outside the main gate to the city.  It was a social gathering place.  Several events in the Bible took place at a well. It is deep - it took about 6 seconds for a large rock to hit the bottom.

 Inside the city, the people dug a deep underground cavern to gather their water supply. They had to dig deep enough that water would flow there from areas surrounding the city.  Beersheva was built on a tell (hill) - the cistern was probably 200 feet below the city level.This is a passageway inside the cavern, where water was stored.

Students sang songs in the cistern.

Another cistern where water was stored.

Descending the initial stairs into the water supply system for Beersheva.