This is the story of an earthquake.

“The words of Amos, a sheep breeder from Tekoa, who prophesied concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah, king of Judah, and Jeroboam son of Joash, king of Israel, two years before the earthquake,” is how the prophet Amos’ book records his time.

Now evidence of that earthquake 2,800 years ago has been discovered around Jerusalem – a site where evidence has been missing until now. (Tekoa, Amo’s home town is 16 km south of Jerusalem).

 

“The Israel Antiquities Authority’s excavations in the City of David National Park – uncovered archaeological evidence of the earthquake that occurred during the Kingdom of Judah, as mentioned in the Bible,” the Israel Antiquities Authority reports.

“The famous earthquake, which occurred in Israel about 2800 years ago, appears in the Bible and was previously exposed in several sites throughout Israel, but researchers believe that for the first time they were able to identify remnants of destruction indicating that the earthquake also hit Jerusalem – the capital of Judah.

“According to Dr. Joe Uziel and Ortal Kalaf, excavation directors on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority – the earthquake that occurred in the middle of the 8th century BCE was probably one of the strongest and most damaging earthquakes in ancient times. Evidence of its occurrence has been discovered in past excavations conducted at a variety of sites throughout Israel.”
The evidence is from the site of a collapsed building in Jerusalem. “Recent excavations revealed a layer of destruction from when the building’s walls collapsed, including a row of shattered vessels, bowls, lamps, cooking utensils, smashed storage, and storage jars. Researchers say that since no signs of fire were found; this was not a deliberate event; therefore, the reason for the destruction is the earthquake that occurred in Israel during the eighth century BCE.”
Archeologists Uziel and Kalef described their discovery.

Email This Story

Why not send this to a friend?

Share