Luke Chandler has joined the team working at Khirbet Qeiyafa again, and has begun to post some reports on the current excavation on Luke Chandler’s Blog. In a personal note, Luke tells me that there are 90 volunteers at Kh. Qeiyafa this season.
Prof. Aren Maeir is posting updates on new finds at Tell es-Safi/Gath. Click here.
Both of these sites have a connection with David.
Khirbet Qeiyafa is located on the hill overlooking the Valley of Elah.
“For Saul and they and all the men of Israel are in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.” So David arose early in the morning and left the flock with a keeper and took the supplies and went as Jesse had commanded him. And he came to the circle of the camp while the army was going out in battle array shouting the war cry. Israel and the Philistines drew up in battle array, army against army.
(1 Samuel 17:19-21 NAU)
The following verses tell the rest of the story.
Goliath, the giant David faced in the Valley of Elah, was from Gath.
As he was talking with them, behold, the champion, the Philistine from Gath named Goliath, was coming up from the army of the Philistines, and he spoke these same words; and David heard them. (1 Samuel 17:23 NAU)
David later took refuge at Gath when he was fleeing from Saul.
Then David arose and fled that day from Saul, and went to Achish king of Gath. (1 Samuel 21:10 NAU)
Exciting things are happening in the Shephelah.
This evening I am speaking at Brooksville, Florida, on The World of Acts and he Epistles.
Ferrell's Travel Blog 