27. Solomon – Archaeological Evidence in Three Cities
Archaeological evidence points to the time of King Solomon in several ancient Israeli cities. Hazor, Megiddo, and Gezer all have massive six-chambered gates from the 10th century BCE that look exactly alike. These gates needed serious planning and lots of skilled workers to build. At Hazor, archaeologists found not just the gate but also a big administrative building that shows signs of organized government. Megiddo tells us more: It has what looks like huge horse stables that match the Bible’s description of Solomon’s chariot forces in 1 Kings 4:26. Gezer adds to the picture with its own six-chambered gate, and scientists used radiocarbon dating to confirm it’s from the early 900s BCE. They also found big storage rooms there, showing someone was running things efficiently. A small limestone tablet called the “Gezer Calendar” lists farm activities that fit with what we know about that time. All these discoveries paint a picture of a rich, well-run kingdom during the 10th century BCE, just like the Bible describes during Solomon’s rule.
