Five Notes on Jerusalem in the First and Second Temple Periods

Abstract

The article discusses five controversial historical-archaeological topics that appear in historiographical and prophetic texts referring to Jerusalem in the First and Second Temple periods: (1) The location of the Gate of the Guards (Šaar hrsîm) which, according to the story of the rebellion against Athaliah (2 Kgs 11), connected the palace to the Temple; (2) the significance of the gate's relocation for the placement of the palace and Temple on the Temple Mount; (3) the geographic boundaries of îr dāvīd ('the City of David') at different periods according to some biblical texts, in particular Isa 22:9–11a; (4) the delineation of the new fortification on the Southwestern Hill according to Jer 31:38–40a; (5) the possible location of Migdal-eder (Mic 4:8) in light of 2 Chr 26:9 and Neh 3:24–25.

Keywords:

• GATE OF THE GUARDS
• SOLOMONIC TEMPLE
• CITY OF DAVID
• BROAD WALL
• MIGDAL-EDER