Sprucing Up for Jerusalem’s 3,000th Anniversary

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Jerusalem will celebrate its 3,000th anniversary as the capital of Israel in 1996. The tri-millennium began with King David’s capture of the city from the Canaanite Jebusites, as recorded in the Bible (2 Samuel 5:6–9 and 1 Chronicles 11:4–8).

David first ruled for seven years in Hebron. Up to that time the Israelites had been unable to wrest Jerusalem from the Canaanites. When David captured the Fortress of Zion (metsudat tsion—2 Samuel 5:7; 1 Chronicles 11:5), he made it his capital. In this way he united the country, ruling from a city that did not belong to any of the twelve tribes.

How 1996 became the 3,000th anniversary of this event is as yet an untold story. The date was chosen by former Jerusalem mayor Teddy Kollek. No one knows exactly when David conquered the city; scholars generally date it about 1000 B.C.E., but some books give the date as 996 B.C.E. What probably happened is that someone noticed this and immediately realized that 1996 was coming up. According to the Jerusalem Post, several scholars advised Kollek that 1996 was the 3,000th anniversary. (But no one seems to know who these scholars are.)

The problem is that 1996 is not 3,000 years after 996 B.C.E. Because the era changes from B.C.E. to C.E. and there is no year zero, 3,000 years before 1996 is 1005 B.C.E. No one has ever suggested, so far as I have been able to tell, that David conquered Jerusalem in 1005 B.C.E.

But never mind. Next year is as good as any to have this celebration, and we plan to observe the occasion with a special issue of BAR.

Naturally, archaeology will be a feature of the anniversary, and the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) is planning to spruce up the city’s many outstanding archaeological sites for the celebration. Many of these sites badly need attention. Some are in terrible shape.

Akeldama, the traditional site of the Field of Blood or Potter’s Field (where Judas hanged himself), is one of the most neglected sites, as reported in the last issue.^a Donkeys are sometimes tethered in the ancient tombs, which may once have held the bones of high priests. Garbage and construction debris litter the site. Whether Potter’s Field or High Priests’ burial ground, Akeldama deserves better treatment.

Another badly neglected site is what may be the tomb of King David himself (see “Is This King David’s Tomb?” in this issue).

The Israel Antiquities Authority plans to restore and consolidate some archaeological remains that are falling apart. In the 1960s the great English archaeologist Kathleen Kenyon excavated the City of David, the oldest inhabited part of Jerusalem. She uncovered part of the ancient city wall that was standing when David conquered the city. It may even have been part of the city gate because it contains an angle. Kenyon found the wall beautifully preserved, but it was never strengthened. Today, it is hardly recognizable, a mere heap of stones. It badly needs restoration and consolidation. And the 3,000th anniversary is a perfect time to do it.

Another possible project under IAA consideration for the anniversary is opening up a blocked tunnel through which David’s general Joab may have crawled to gain entrance to the city. In the BAR 20:04 issue, two articles explored underground Jerusalem to discover how Joab may have found his way into the 060heavily defended Jebusite city.^b One possible entry was Warren’s Shaft, a vertical shaft 37 feet high. It is admittedly difficult, but not impossible, to ascend this shaft from the bottom. Joab may have taken another route, however, to reach the top of Warren’s Shaft: A horizontal tunnel opening on the city’s eastern side overlooking the Kidron Valley extends to the top of the shaft. This tunnel is easily traversed and requires none of the derring-do needed to climb Warren’s shaft. The tunnel has long been blocked by debris, however. Why not clear it out and let visitors see how Joab may have gotten into the Jebusite city? This would indeed be a major attraction.

One of the most sensitive subjects relating to Jerusalem archaeology is the matter of publishing the results. There have been three major excavations in Jerusalem since the Old City and the City of David came under Israeli control in 1967: (1) excavations at the Temple Mount’s southern wall, led by Professor Benjamin Mazar; (2) excavations in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City, led by Professor Nahman Avigad; and (3) excavations in the City of David, led by Professor Yigal Shiloh.

Both Avigad and Shiloh died without completing their final reports. Fortunately, however, both kept excellent records and the work of publication is being completed by colleagues—Hillel Geva and Ronny Reich in the case of the Jewish Quarter excavations (both spent more than a decade as Avigad’s assistants), and several archaeologists who assisted Shiloh, including Alon de Groot and Donald Ariel of the Israel Antiquities Authority and Jane Cahill and David Tarler, in the case of the excavations in the City of David.

The real problem is the important excavations at the Temple Mount’s southern wall. Beginning in 1968, excavations continued there around the clock for at least nine years. Unlike the excavations in the Jewish Quarter and the City of David, not even regular preliminary reports have been published. Moreover, the excavation records are in a shambles or are nonexistent. Serious questions were raised about the quality of the excavation records even as they were being made. A nasty conflict between the excavation director and 061his field director, Meir Ben-Dov, led to charges and countercharges concerning who was entitled to the excavation records. Where they are now, if they still exist, is anybody’s guess. The dig effectively ended 18 years ago. For some time it has been obvious that neither the excavation director (now nearing 90) nor the field director will ever publish the excavation.

As a kind of rescue mission, IAA director Amir Drori has stepped into this unseemly breach. The finds from the dig have been brought to the Rockefeller Museum under the control of the Antiquities Authority. But, according to a very reliable source, “only the finds that ‘survived’ the dig (that is, were not lost by being moved from location to location) finally were brought to the IAA storerooms, but without accompanying written records. Thus, their scientific value is extremely limited.” Nevertheless, whatever can be salvaged should be promptly published.

A very capable younger archaeologist will be publishing some of what can be salvaged: Mazar’s granddaughter, Eilat Mazar, who recently published some Iron Age material from the dig.^c Ms. Mazar even intends to excavate the site further, hoping to clear up some remaining questions.

The site is now badly overrun with weeds, bushes and even trees. The signs, where they exist, are woefully inadequate. Much work remains to be done before this important site can be appropriately presented to the public. Fortunately, some additional reconstruction of the site is planned by the IAA. In this connection, several small excavations will also be carried out by IAA archaeologist Reich. Reich is already digging next to Robinson’s Arch and inside the Old City wall adjacent to the Dung Gate.

With some hard work, long hours and a little bit of luck, Jerusalem archaeology will be ready to present a shining morning face to the public by the time the 3,000th anniversary celebration rolls around.

Jerusalem will celebrate its 3,000th anniversary as the capital of Israel in 1996. The tri-millennium began with King David’s capture of the city from the Canaanite Jebusites, as recorded in the Bible (2 Samuel 5:6–9 and 1 Chronicles 11:4–8).