Where Were the Old Testament Kings of Ancient Jerusalem Buried?
Archaeologist Jeff Zorn reinvestigates an old theory
Jeffrey Zorn presents some of Raymond Weill’s early-20th-century plans from his Jerusalem excavations in “Is T1 David’s Tomb?” in the November/December 2012 edition of BAR. Take a closer look at Weill’s detailed drawings in the Bible History Daily exclusive “King David’s Tomb–A Closer Look”. Zoom in on pictures from the magazine, and get a fresh look at additional web-exclusive photographs, plans and drawings.
Nearly a century ago, French archaeologist Raymond Weill excavated what he identified to be tombs in Jerusalem’s City of David—perhaps the royal necropolis of the earliest Old Testament kings. Some scholars have since disputed this claim, but an examination of the evidence by archaeologist Jeff Zorn suggests that Weill might well have been right.
Although King David’s tomb has been erroneously identified with a location on Jerusalem’s Mt. Zion since the days of the Jewish historian Josephus (first century C.E.), earlier Biblical references make it clear that David and many other Old Testament kings were buried near the southern end of the City of David in ancient Jerusalem. But where exactly? Jeff Zorn believes we may already know.
Archaeologist Jeff Zorn believes these two quarried-out tunnels in the City of David may have once held the remains of the earliest Old Testament kings of ancient Jerusalem.
Nineteenth-century diplomat and explorer Charles Clermont-Ganneau believed the circuitous path of Hezekiah’s Tunnel offered a major clue. Clermont-Ganneau suggested the looping semicircular path followed by Hezekiah’s Tunnel towards its southern end was dug to avoid disturbing the burial grounds of the ancient Jerusalem kings that lay above. Within a couple of decades, Baron Edmond de Rothschild had purchased land in this area of the City of David to test the hypothesis through excavation.
Weill directed excavations on Baron Rothschild’s City of David property in 1913–1914 and again in 1923–1924. Though the area was greatly disturbed by later quarrying, Weill discovered ancient walls, ritual pools, cisterns, a circular tower (now believed to be a columbarium) and, most remarkably, nine rock-cut features that he identified as “tombs.” Weill interpreted the three most prominent tombs (labeled T1–T3) to be part of the royal necropolis of the Old Testament kings of ancient Jerusalem.
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The parallel rock-cut tunnels Weill labeled T1 and T2 are still the most imposing of the “tombs.” T1 is about 54 feet long, 8 feet wide and 6 feet high. T2 is about 28 feet long, although evidence suggests it may originally have been much longer. While both tunnels are relatively simple and unadorned, T1 was divided into two levels, with the upper including a 6-foot-long rectangular depression at its far end that could have held the body or sarcophagus of the deceased.
So are these tunnels the remains of the royal Davidic necropolis of ancient Jerusalem?
Most scholar have remained unconvinced, pointing out that several features of the tunnels indicate they were more likely used as domestic cisterns or basements during the Second Temple period. But, as Jeff Zorn argues, even if these features were modified and reused during the Second Temple period (by which time any memory of where David and his descendants were buried had long since faded), this does not preclude the possibility of their original function as ancient Jerusalem royal tombs.
Those who reject Weill’s interpretation also point out that prominent Jerusalem families were able to commission much more elaborate First Temple period tombs, many of which have been found. Why then would Judah’s Old Testament kings have been buried in such simple, unadorned sepulchers?
Jeff Zorn argues that the plain tombs discovered by Weill are much more characteristic of the relatively simple royal tombs known from Late Bronze and early Iron Age sites throughout the Near East. As such, Weill’s tombs very well could be the tombs of Jerusalem’s earliest Old Testament kings, whose final resting places would have been made to look like the royal tombs of their contemporaries.
To continue learning about the ancient Jerusalem tombs discovered by Weill, read Jeffrey Zorn’s “Is T1 David’s Tomb?,” Biblical Archaeology Review, November/December 2012.
To view web-exclusive details of the site, visit “King David’s Tomb–A Closer Look”.
A version of this post first appeared in Bible History Daily in 2012.
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thanks for what really is an interesting essay.
This article leaves the impression that Biblical Archeology is a pseudo-science. Why do we assume modern Jerusalem (at the time of Jesus), was the same city as ancient Jerusalem (before Nebuchadnezzar)? Ezra (3:6) says the foundation for the Temple hadn’t been laid there at the time of Cyrus the Great (550 BCE or so). Modern Jerusalem was an ancient walled city but Solomon’s temple was never there according to the Old Testament.
Ask the critical questions. Who defeated the Philistines or Sea People historically? It was Ramsses III according to the historical record and David according to the Bible. What was the symbol for stability, God, and resurrection that still bears the name Ramsses? The Djed. There never was an individual David, the name represents the 20th Dynasty of Egypt and all that happened in that time period.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Amulette_en_forme_de_pilier_Djed_au_nom_de_Rams%C3%A8s_IX_(Louvre).jpg
Who followed Djed (or David)? The Pharaoh Siamun in the 21st Dynasty. He built Tanis and procured cedars from Lebanon to rebuild temples. He also built a porch for his wife Pharaoh’s daughter. Whomever married Pharaoh’s daughter was then a Pharaoh.
Solomon’s temple is still there in the middle of a big unexcavated city, just paste this into Google Earth.
30°58’14.21″ N 31°53’10.43″ E
The ‘City of David’, is there also. Or at least that’s where all the gold and dead people were until they were moved to the Valley of the Kings
30°58’40.98″ N 31°52’53.35″ E
How much gold did Pharaoh have? How much gold did Solomon have? How much mined gold was in the world in 1000 BCE? A total of 60 tons according to Robert Feather in, “The Mystery of the Copper Scroll of Qumran” (pg. 22). 666 talents of gold (Solomon’s supply) was 1/3 of the world’s production of gold in 1000 BCE. That’s incredible considering all the gold in Egypt and India.
Solomon could only be the 21st Dynasty of Egypt, and not a single individual.
In 312 BCE there was a giant alter of white stones at the site in modern Jerusalem according to Hecateus. These huge white stones are almost identical in size to the huge white stones at the foundation of the Temple Mount.
Hecateus wrote (about 312 BCE) “There are many strong places and villages (says he) in the country of Judea; but one strong city there is, about fifty furlongs in circumference, which is inhabited by a hundred and twenty thousand men, or thereabouts; they call it Jerusalem. There is about the middle of the city a wall of stone, whose length is five hundred feet, and the breadth a hundred cubits, with double cloisters; wherein there is a square altar, not made of hewn stone, but composed of white stones gathered together, having each side twenty cubits long, and its altitude ten cubits.”
Josephus Apion I, 22
IT says their remains were desecrated. Jer 8:1-2.
The temple foundation was probably taken away. Them were rocks of the finest quality, Rose.
3rd last paragraph ” (by which time any memory of where David and his descendants were buried had long since faded), “…. BUT I recall Jesus’ disciples refering to Davids tomb…so they knew where David’s tomb was during Jesus’ day…?
We see Bible. We see Assyrian and Neo-Babylonian mentions of Judah. We see numerous Judahite inscriptions in Judah. We state the obvious.
Ask the critical questions. Who defeated the Republicans or GOPers historically? It was Bill Clinton according to the historical record and Barack Obama according to my memory.
-There was never an individual Barack Obama, the name represents the Great Recession period of the United States and all that happened in that time period.
What is the symbol for power, strikes from the air in foreign lands, and the chief god? The lightning bolt, whose name is reflected in “Barak” (in Hebrew).
In any case, Jerusalem ain’t Tanis (that would be בְצֹ֖עַן). Citing Bobby Feather the crank isn’t going to do you much good here. Osorkon I gave 96 tons of gold per year to the gods of Egypt (Kitchen, OROT, p. 623).
Note to BAR: get some moderators, or at least respond to these pieces of fecal matter that are dropped weekly on your website.
@ Greg -That is the chief hole I see in Zorn’s hypothesis.
I see Enopoletus has no real answers to critical questions, just mindless political angst. This is a Biblical Archeology site not a personal political forum.
There is no mention of a temple in modern Jerusalem prior to Alexander the Great.
Paul-Alain Beaulieu, author of, “The Reign of Nabonidus, King of Babylon 556-539 B.C” has many cuneiform’s that list temple restorations during that period. Historians such as Josephus say it wasn’t there, and Ezra himself says he laid the foundation. The Cyrus Cylinder mentions the temple in a different place.
Tanis is where the Pharaoh Siamun sent ships to bring back cedars from Lebanon according to hieroglyphics. The Temple there is an exact match to the dimensions and orientation of the so-called Solomon’s Temple. It’s unexcavated and in the middle of a buried city. All the gold and tombs of the kings are less than 1 mile to the north.
30°58’14.21″ N 31°53’10.43″ E
It’s a fair question to ask for actual evidence (not tradition) in support of Solomon’s Temple being in Modern Jerusalem. I’ve given empirical data including a map coordinate with a temple that is an exact fit. Some take umbrage when presented with new facts, ignorance is painful. Until the temple at Tanis is excavated, it’s by far the best fit for Solomon’s temple both biblically and historically. Just because some are unaware doesn’t make it disappear, it’s there.
Everything that happened at Tanis historically fits the framework of the Biblical Solomon. Solomon was never an individual, but he represents the 21st Dynasty of Egypt. Biblically the 12 tribes split after the death of Solomon just like Egypt split after the 21st Dynasty.
>> Osorkon I gave 96 tons of gold per year to the gods of Egypt (Kitchen, OROT, p. 623).
Rose> Robert Feather (a Metallurgist) was citing data from a 1993 NATO Conference on “Prehistoric Gold”. It says 60 tonnes (about 60.6 tons) was the worlds entire production in 1000 BCE and 150 tonnes (about 165 tons) by the year 1 CE.
Kitchen says, “Only fragments of this long and detailed hieroglyphic text of Osorkon have been found. But these seem to record gifts totaling. .. . .” (BAR Where Did Solomon’s Gold Go?, May/Jun 1989)
Obviously Kitchen translated it wrong, filled in the missing texts, or the 1993 NATO Conference on “Prehistoric Gold” was wrong by 1,000% or so.
Shalom
Judges 5
1 Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day, saying,
2 Praise ye the Lord for the avenging of Israel, when the people willingly offered themselves.
3 Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes; I, even I, will sing unto the Lord; I will sing praise to the Lord God of Israel.
You’re right Greg the tomb of David must have escaped or been repaired during Nehemiah’s work. Rose what are you smoking LOL.
What ‘political angst’? Are you referring to my analogies, made to demonstrate your claims in your first comment are ridiculous? We don’t have cuneiform accounts of the Sack of Jerusalem. Why would texts which no longer exist say the obvious (that there was a temple at the Judahite capital city) anyway?
“Everything that happened at Tanis historically fits the framework of the Biblical Solomon.”-Except the construction of the temple of YHWH and the high places for the gods of Moab, Ammon, and Phoenicia. “Solomon was never an individual, but he represents the 21st Dynasty of Egypt. Biblically the 12 tribes split after the death of Solomon just like Egypt split after the 21st Dynasty.”
-Sure, and James Polk was never an individual, but represents the antebellum period of America. Biblically the 12 tribes split after the death of Solomon just like America split during the Civil War.
Ignorance is, indeed, painful (e.g, my ignorance of what in the world the rectangular structure you are pointing me to is). I take pains with misinterpretations, not facts. Merely saying something (such as that “historians such as Josephus say it wasn’t there” or “The Temple there is an exact match to the dimensions and orientation of the so-called Solomon’s Temple.”) doesn’t make it so. Testis unus testis nullus-I see all you state as a lie unless you give me a source. Besides, the Bible clearly presents the Temple of Solomon as being in a clearly-attested Iron Age Jerusalem in a clearly-attested Iron Age Judah.
Also, there is no contradiction between Kitchen and the NATO conference statement-not all gold that is given to the gods each year is mined.
What would convince you that the Temple of Solomon was in Jerusalem? What would convince you that the Temple of Solomon was not in Tanis?