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MEGIDDO
A. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
Megiddo represents one of the most important Canaanite cites in the northern areas of Israel, mentioned for the first time in the annals of Thutmose III, who in 1468 defeated a Canaanite army near here. A long list of booty is a good indication of the wealth of this city. The city was located strategically one of three natural passes (the Aruna Pass) which entered into the Jezreel Valley. As to the city’s important location, Thutmose III commented (from the inscriptions at Karnak in Egypt), “...For the capturing of Megiddo is the capturing of a thousand towns! Capture ye firmly, firmly.” Thutmose conquered this city by entering Megiddo via the Aruna Pass, while the men of Megiddo only guarded the other two passes. The Egyptians took “340 live prisoners, 2,041 horses, 191 foals and colts...”
After this conquest, Megiddo became an Egyptian stronghold in the north of the country. It was still a very strong Canaanite city-state when the Israelites, under the leadership of Joshua, conquered the territory. Centuries later, Solomon fortified Megiddo together with Gezer and Hazor, and it was one of the cities in his fifth division (I Kgs. 9:15).
In 924 B.C., the city was taken by Pharaoh Shishak of Egypt. According to Pharaoh Shishak’s stele (dating to about 925 B.C. and recovered at Megiddo), this 15 inch stone fragment read, “Bright is the form of the {sun-god} Re and Amun’s beloved, Shishak {I}.” As I Kings 14:25,26 records, Shishak “marched against Jerusalem and carried off the treasure of the house of the Lord.”
According to an inscription at Karnak, Shishak then turned north, conquering several cities, of which Megiddo was one of them (although it may have surrendered without a fight.). If he had destroyed this city, he probably would not have erected a “victory stele” at this sight.
In 733-732 B.C., the Assyrian King Tiglath-Pileser III conquered Megiddo and made the city his capital of the region. In the 7th century B.C., it was again part of Judah for a short period, and near it took place the battle between Josiah, King of Judah, and Pharaoh Necho of Egypt (II Kgs. 23:29). After this battle Megiddo lost importance as the guardian of the strategic Jezreel Valley.
B. BIBLICAL REFERENCES
1. Judges 1:27 Manasseh was unable to drive out the inhabitants of ... Megiddo.
2. I Kg. 9:15 Solomon builds up/fortifies Megiddo (no doubt for military and strategic reasons).
3. II Kg. 9:14-27 Ahaziah is wounded in the confrontation with Jehu, and crawls to and dies at Megiddo.
4. Kg. 23:29 Josiah is unable to stop Pharaoh Necho in aiding the Assyrians. Josiah is slain at Megiddo.
5. Rev. 16:16 With a literal interpretation, “Armageddon” is the Greek translation of the combination of the Hebrew words Har and Megiddo (“Har-Megiddo”). According to the literal interpreter, this will be the final battlefield when the Lord returns.
C. ARCHAEOLOGICAL FINDS OF INTEREST
1. EARLY BRONZE I: A 3-room building was found, one of whose rooms measures 12 x 36 feet, and has been identified as a shrine with an alter against one of its walls. A thick mud-brick wall also belongs to this period, perhaps a city wall.
2. EARLY BRONZE II: This period is represented by 3 strata. To these levels belongs the city wall, which is 25 feet thick and 12 feet in height. Close to the early shrine is an open air high place/altar. It is round, 25 feet in diameter, and 5 feet high. It marks the worship rituals of the early Canaanities living in this area.
3. MIDDLE BRONZE I & II: Strong attempts were made during this period to re-fortify the city walls. A new city wall built of mud brick on a stone foundation 5 feet thick is evident. Set against it is a street running parallel to the wall itself.
4. LATE BRONZE I & II: This period, the period attack by Joshua and the invading Israelites (although secular scholars would date the Exodus and conquest to the mid 13th century, aprox. 1,250 B.C.), is represented by a palace and a gate. The palace included a washroom. Under the floor on one of the rooms a hoard of gold jewelry and carved ivory plaques and figurines were found. Nearly 400 ivories have been found, telling us of the apparent wealth of the Canaanites . Also of importance, a broken cuneiform tablet (called the Gilgamesh Epic) was found, perhaps indicating a scribal school existed here at Megiddo during Canaanite inhabitation. The Epic includes a flood narrative similar to that in Genesis.
5. IRON AGE I: Significant finds that date to the time of Solomon can be seen, most impressively, a classic Solomonic gate. This type of gate structure can also be found throughout Israel. Also, either a stable or a storehouse has been unearthed. Also, an elaborate water system was built to direct water into the city premises. Safe access to water during times of siege was provided by this 210 foot-long underground tunnel at the bottom of the vertical shaft inside the city.
6. IRON AGE II: During Ahab’s rule, two large complexes of stables were built, providing stabling for 492 horses. Each unit consisted of a long hall with two rows of pillars down the center. The pillars supported the roof. Ahab also completed the water system. Another important building was the large municipal grain store/bin, a circular structure 35 feet in diameter, sunk about 225 feet into the ground and with flights of steps.
7. IRON AGE III: After the conquest of Tiglath-Pileser III (734 B.C.) of the Northern Kingdom (Israel), a new city was built. It was well planned, with spacious housing. Typical Israelite 4-room houses were used (see full page diagram). After about 600 B.C., this city becomes an unfortified city with no impressive buildings.