Biblical Archaeology Review is the flagship publication of the Biblical Archaeology Society. For more than 40 years it has been making the world of archaeology in the lands of the Bible come alive for the interested layperson. Full of vivid images and articles written by leading scholars, this is a must read for anyone interested in the archaeology of the ancient Near East.
Ali Harad (1170 A.D.) states: “Beit Lahem (Bethlehem) is the name of the town where Jesus was born—peace be with him—and where there are the tombs of David and Solomon” (Archives de l’ Orient Latin I, Paris 1881, p. 605). Ibn Khaldun (14th century) writes in his history: “Then David, the prophet, died and was buried in Bethlehem” (F. Dunkel, Das Heilige Land 55 [1911], p. 25).
Josephus thought that the ancient wall (First wall) encompassing the western hill had been built by David and Solomon (The Jewish War 5.143). Describing David’s conquest of Jerusalem, he lets Joab first conquer the Lower City, then the Jebusite fortress in the Upper City (Jewish Antiquities 7.62–66).
