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'''Shaaraim''' ({{lang-he|'''Sha'arayim''', שעריים}}), meaning "Two Gates", is an Israelite city mentioned several times in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament.
'''Shaaraim''' ({{lang-he|''''arayim''', שעריים}}), meaning "Two Gates", is an Israelite city mentioned several times in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament.


==Biblical references==
The city appears in the city list of Judah's tribal inheritance, after [[Socoh]] and [[Azekah]] (Jos 15, 36). After [[King David|David]] killed [[Goliath]], the [[Philistines]] ran away and were slain on the “road to Sha'arayim" (1 Sam 17:52). In the city list of the tribe of Simeon, Sha'arayim is mentioned as one of the cities "unto the reign of David" (1 Chr 4:31). The name means "two gates" in Hebrew.
The city appears in the city list of Judah's tribal inheritance, after [[Socoh]] and [[Azekah]] (Jos 15, 36). After [[King David|David]] killed [[Goliath]], the [[Philistines]] ran away and were slain on the “road to 'arayim" (1 Sam 17:52). In the city list of the tribe of Simeon, 'arayim is mentioned as one of the cities "unto the reign of David" (1 Chr 4:31).


==Archaeology==
==Possible archaeological identification==
Khirbet Qeiyafa is work uncovered a wall that makes a nearly complete circuit with two gates is the only contender for ' all other sites the period have a single city gate. dating and the of pig bones strengthen the that Qeiyafa is and not a Canaanite fortress. <ref>Oldest Hebrew inscription' Discovered in Israelite Fort on Philistine border, Biblical Archaeology Review, March/April 2010, p. 52.</ref>
Having excavated the site, Professor Yossi Garfinkel of Hebrew University and others believe that the
Khirbet Qeiyafa is Shaaraim as the field work has uncovered a wall that makes a nearly complete circuit with two gates, and because this is "the only contender for Sha'arim with two gates, all the other sites of the period have only a single city gate." Further, carbon dating and the lack of pig bones strengthen the arguments that Qeiyafa is Shaaraim and not a Canaanite fortress. <ref>Oldest Hebrew inscription' Discovered in Israelite Fort on Philistine border, Biblical Archaeology Review, March/April 2010, p. 52.</ref> [[Israel Finkelstein]] disagrees, commenting that Megiddo and several other ancient towns in that region also had two gates at this period of time. <ref name="Fridman"> Julia Fridman, [http://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium-1.543216 'Crying King David: Are the ruins found in Israel really his palace? ,'] at [[Haaretz]], 26 August, 2013.</ref>


[[Israel Finkelstein]] disagrees. He claims that Megiddo and several other ancient towns in that region had two gates.<ref name="Fridman"> Julia Fridman, [http://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium-1.543216 'Crying King David: Are the ruins found in Israel really his palace? ,'] at [[Haaretz]], 26 August, 2013.</ref>
==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}

Revision as of 06:36, 21 June 2016

Shaaraim (Hebrew: She'arayim, שעריים), meaning "Two Gates", is an Israelite city mentioned several times in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament. The site is believed to be on a hilltop overlooking the Elah Valley in the Judean hills.[1]

Biblical references

The city appears in the city list of Judah's tribal inheritance, after Socoh and Azekah (Jos 15, 36). After David killed Goliath, the Philistines ran away and were slain on the “road to She'arayim" (1 Sam 17:52). In the city list of the tribe of Simeon, She'arayim is mentioned as one of the cities "unto the reign of David" (1 Chr 4:31).

Archaeology

After excavating the site, Yossi Garfinkel of Hebrew University of Jerusalem and others believe that Khirbet Qeiyafa is She'arayim. Field work uncovered a wall that makes a nearly complete circuit with two gates. Garfinkel says it is the only contender for She'arayim as all other sites dated to the period have a single city gate. Carbon dating and the absence of pig bones strengthen the argument that Qeiyafa is She'aryaim and not a Canaanite fortress. [2]

Israel Finkelstein disagrees. He claims that Megiddo and several other ancient towns in that region had two gates.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b Julia Fridman, 'Crying King David: Are the ruins found in Israel really his palace? ,' at Haaretz, 26 August, 2013.
  2. ^ Oldest Hebrew inscription' Discovered in Israelite Fort on Philistine border, Biblical Archaeology Review, March/April 2010, p. 52.