Was Solomon Truly a Great Builder? And Did He Exist at All?
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12775/BPTh.2026.012Keywords
Megiddo, Hazor, Gezer, Solomon, United Monarchy, 1 Kings 9:15Abstract
The article presents archaeological evidence from Megiddo, Gezer, and Hazor. New data obtained using the 14C method suggest that the formation of strata Hazor X–IX, Gezer VIII/8, and Megiddo VB–IVA/Q-4, H-5, along with their fortifications and six-chambered gates, should be dated to the mid-tenth century BC. The possibility that they were built by independent Canaanite or decentralized Hebrew communities must be rejected, as this is contradicted by the uniform pattern and very similar timing of the construction. The most likely builder during this period is the Hebrew United Monarchy, with the biblical tradition pointing to Solomon. The convergence of the archaeological data with the account of 1 Kings 9:15 suggests that this verse preserved older material and was incorporated by the Deuteronomist into his history of Israel.
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